2016-2020 Transformational years featuring major capital works, environmental initiatives and community projects.
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2016-2020 Transformational years featuring major capital works, environmental initiatives and community projects.
Warrnambool City Council - 2016-2020
Warrnambool Library and Learning Hub • Improved spectator amenities
A partnership between the Victorian Government, South • Better cricket training facilities
West TAFE and Warrnambool City Council will deliver a
$20.25 million Warrnambool Learning and Library Hub. On-ground work will begin in late 2020 with the
redevelopment scheduled for completion in mid-2022.
The new Learning and Library Hub will replace the existing
library in Liebig Street, with much larger, brighter, modern Business Improvement Grants
and more accessible space.
About 40 Warrnambool businesses shared in close to
$90,000 through Warrnambool City Council’s Business
Initiative Grant (BIG) program.
The grants were part of Council’s Business Support Plan
to help local businesses affected by the COVID-19
pandemic.
In the spirit of the Get Around Warrnambool campaign, the
grants focused on business growth, collaboration,
entrepreneurship and developing new business strategies
on a dollar for dollar basis.
The projects will be completed over the remainder of 2020
and into early 2021.
The new space will provide iconic, fit for purpose,
accessible, technologically advanced learning and library
facilities for both the community and South West TAFE
staff and students. Home Support Services
Concept designs for the new $20.25 million learning and Council provides Home Support Services to more than
library hub at South West TAFE’s Warrnambool campus 1000 people living in the community.
have been released, offering community members a
glimpse of what the stunning new building is expected to
look like, thanks to the Victorian Government.
A builder is expected to be appointed in April 2021.
Completion and opening of the new hub is scheduled for
mid-2022.
Reid Oval Redevelopment
Services include domestic assistance (such as cleaning
and vacuuming), personal care (showering and grooming),
home maintenance, Meals on Wheels, social support and
respite to help people to be independent at home and in
the community.
Reid Oval is being transformed in this $11 million project Importantly, these services have been maintained
which includes a $7 million funding commitment from the throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with extra precautions
Victorian Government. in place.
The project will include: All staff have completed online COVID-19 training, wear
appropriate personal protective equipment and maintain
physical distance wherever possible.
• An upgraded playing surface on Reid Oval to a regional
standard for AFL and cricket
Other practical initiatives, such as pre-packaging Meals on
Wheels at the distribution centre rather than at the Meals
• Upgraded lighting to allow night fixtures to be played on Wheels centre to reduce handling, have been
implemented.
• Modern facilities that cater equally for male and female
participants
Warrnambool City Council - 2016-2020
The Home Support Team has also been conducting Government’s announcement of $350,000 for a
welfare checks on all clients in Council’s system who have stormwater harvesting project at Albert Park.
suspended services due to COVID-19 to ensure that they
are still being supported. The funding will see up to 15 ML (six Olympic swimming
pools) of water harvested annually from the rooftops of all
Smarter street lighting major buildings on the northern side of the Albert Park
Precinct.
A further 903 street lights in Warrnambool will be replaced
with energy efficient LED lights.
This is in addition to about 1900 street lights upgraded to
LED across 2013 and 2014.
The new lights will improve energy efficiency, lower
operating costs, and in most cases, will improve existing
lighting levels across the City.
Energy savings are expected to be in the order of 275,000
kWh or 275 MWh per year, equivalent to the total
electricity usage of 18 average Australian homes in a year.
The project will reduce annual carbon emissions of about
295 tonnes, equivalent to taking about 100 cars off the
roads.
The project will be delivered in partnership with Wannon
The energy savings represent 6 per cent of the total Water, Warrnambool City Council, City Memorial Bowls
Council electricity consumption for the 2019-2020 Club, Warrnambool Football Netball Club and
financial year with payback time for the project estimated Warrnambool Secondary College.
at seven to eight years.
Cost of the supply and installation of the lights is about
$1million. Palm trees to create a sense of arrival and
welcome
The Mortlake Road entrance into Warrnambool will be
Edwards Bridge Works enhanced with the planting of an avenue of Canary Island
Date Palms.
Work undertaken in 2017 and 2020 on the Edwards Bridge
(also known as the Stanley Street Bridge) will extend its There are examples of Canary Island Date Palms
operational life. elsewhere around the city and they are much admired by
residents. These palms, Phoenix canariensis, are included
in our recommended street tree species list.
They are a large, stately palm that is slow growing and will
eventually reach up to 18m in height.
Community Development Fund
In 2020 Council announced the biggest Community
Development Fund in its history. A total of $253,000 (more
than double the 2019 allocation) was made available to
clubs, with grants of up to $5000 available (up from
$3000).
Council also removed the need for clubs to contribute
funding to identified projects, with the Council grant now
able to cover 100 per cent of the costs.
The bridge, which is more than 120 years old, will be Grants are available across four categories:
serviceable for a few more years before a decision is made
on a long-term solution.
- Sport and Recreation
- Culture and Arts
Stormwater Harvesting at Albert Park - Environment and Sustainability
Warrnambool City Council has welcomed the Victorian - Events and Festivals
Warrnambool City Council - 2016-2020
The fund forms part of Council’s $1.951 million COVID-19 While the toilets narrowly missed out on funding via the
response for the 2020/2021 financial year. public voting process, Council elected to cover the
$161,000 cost of the project.
Council has now invested more than $500,000 over recent
years to improve Jubilee Park.
Boost to help Aboriginal girls in the arts
A Warrnambool Art Gallery initiative that supports the
involvement of Aboriginal girls in arts and entrepreneurship
has been awarded a $50,000 Victorian Government grant. Glass used in road construction
About 60,000 locally recycled glass bottles and jars are
being used to rebuild Walsh Road.
The Ngatook Collective, a project designed to engage and The glass comes from three community glass recycling
immerse young Aboriginal girls in First Nations’ culture bins placed around Warrnambool in February as well as
whilst developing life-long and practical skills receivedthe from the Moyne Shire’s kerbside glass collection.
grant through the Office for Women.
This glass is then crushed by local firm Fulton Hogan and
used as a substitute for sand in the asphalting process.
Compostable toilets for Jubilee Park/ Walsh Road is the first road in Warrnambool to utilise this
new method with about 15 tonnes of glass used in the
Wurrumbit Birrng Yaar project.
More than six tonnes of glass have been collected from
the three Warrnambool “bottle banks” alone.
Additionally, Council has been collecting glass from
approximately 3300 properties since February as part of a
trial.
This glass is being held by Wheelie Waste ahead of being
graded and crushed for use in local concrete
manufacturing.
New equipment at AquaZone with all-
abilities focus
The new compostable toilet facilities have been built at
Jubilee Park/Wurrumbit Birrng Yaar.
The new accessible toilets were made possible thanks to
the efforts of community volunteers led by long-time
Woodford residents Trish Blakeslee and Arnold Brian with
the support of the Warrnambool Fly Fishers Club also
crucial.
The need for toilets in the park was identified in the Jubilee
Park Master Plan, with the project receiving further
momentum after Ms Blakeslee submitted it as part of the
Victorian Government’s Pick My Project initiative in 2018.
Warrnambool City Council - 2016-2020
In order to help people of all abilities stay active and Participants could follow the clues to find eight brilliant
healthy, AquaZone has installed a brand-new range of neon sculptures at some of Warrnambool’s most iconic
strength equipment. locations.
The machines, made by TechnoGym, include multiple The hunt was designed so participants don’t need to leave
features to make them accessible for a wide range of their vehicle to enjoy it, and anyone who finds all eight
people, with seats able to be removed to accommodate sculptures can enter the draw to win one of two $100 gift
wheelchair users one example. vouchers to the local business of their choice.
The sculptures were made by visual artist Carla O’Brien,
whose neon artworks have been showcased at the White
Night festivals in Melbourne and Ballarat as well as the
Fully renovated Florence Collins reopens Burning Man Festival in the United States.
Warrnambool’s longest-running childcare service is now
home to brand-new facilities following an extensive
renovation.
Beach Access Restored at Moyjil
Work to restore a beach access staircase at Moyjil-Point
Ritchie was carried out from June to July, 2020.
Everyone was welcomed back for their first day at the
Florence Collins childcare centre and kindergarten in July
2020.
The Kepler Street facility underwent a full renovation
following its closure in May 2019 to repair significant
damage caused by a slow water leak. The $215,000 project is being funded by Warrnambool
City Council ($94,000) and the Department of
The building is jointly owned and managed by South West Environment, Land, Water and Planning ($121,000) and is
TAFE and Warrnambool City Council, who worked with being delivered in partnership with the Eastern Maar
insurers to carry out the repairs. Aboriginal Corporation.
Maar shell middens and other archaeological material
unearthed in recent years have resulted in Moyjil becoming
the subject of an Ongoing Protection Declaration, the
Solstice Searching highest level of protection available for Aboriginal cultural
heritage in Victoria.
Hundreds of people joined in a city-wide scavenger hunt in
June 2020, devised to give people a fun, COVID-safe The new access project is a collaboration that also
activity. includes the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, the
Registered Aboriginal Party for the area.
New footbridge at Lake Pertobe
A steel and fibre reinforced plastic frame bridge with a
recycled composite decking replaced an old wooden
bridge at Lake Pertobe that had reached the end of its
useful life.
The contemporary materials used on the new bridge mean
that it will last much longer than a traditional wooden
structure.
The $105,800 project was jointly funded by the Australian
Government and the Warrnambool City Council.
Warrnambool City Council - 2016-2020
Victorian Government’s Pick My Project initiative in 2018,
which allowed local projects to be submitted with a public
voting process determining which ones gained funding.
It marks the first deliverable as part of the $2.9 million
investment in the Lake Pertobe project from the co-funded
Australian Government’s Building Better Regions Fund
Grant.
Rate cap variation funds three new
playgrounds
New playgrounds were constructed in mid-2020 at New roundabout at intersection of Timor
Mahogany Gardens in South Warrnambool, Pappas Drive
in Dennington and Victoria Park in West Warrnambool. and Kelp streets
The new facilities utilise funds made available through a
variation to the Victorian Government rate cap.
In June 2020, a new roundabout was constructed at the
In May 2019, Council was one of only two municipalities intersection of Timor and Kelp streets, with the majority of
granted permission by the Essential Services Commission the $272,000 upgrade funded by the Australian
to implement a variation to the rate cap. Government’s Black Spot Fund.
All funds raised via the rate cap have been used to renew As well as a new roundabout, the upgrade will included a
footpaths and playgrounds, with other projects funded in reduction in the speed limit from 60km/h to 50km/h on
2019/2020 including paths at Cannon Hill, Russells Creek, Timor Street, improved pedestrian crossing points, kerb
St James Park, Pertobe Road and Gateway Road. modifications to allow for bus movements, new lighting,
new signs as well as minor footpath and drainage works.
The project also completes the network of roundabout
intersections in this grid of Warrnambool.
Nature-based Play Space Taking Shape
Construction on a nature-based playspace in the
Warrnambool Botanic Gardens is nearing completion.
Safety upgrade for Cannon Hill
Rather than traditional play equipment, the space will
feature a basalt tunnel, Monterrey Cyprus balancing New CCTV cameras and lights have been installed at
beams and many other play elements that reflect the Cannon Hill.
natural environment while giving kids a sense of
adventure. The project aims to discourage hoon driving and
vandalism in the area while helping to make people feel
The project was successful in receiving funding via the safer.
Warrnambool City Council - 2016-2020
The majority of the project is funded via a $133,967 grant at the community dog park.
from the Department of Justice and Regulation’s Public
Safety Infrastructure Fund. The $20,000 upgrade completed in June 2020 means the
park now covers a 4000sqm (one acre) fenced space, with
new seats added too.
Five light poles will be installed along the length of Artillery The park was first opened in 2019 and has proved a
Crescent with bollard lighting along the footpath link to popular destination for dogs and their owners ever since.
Pertobe Road.
There are now 25 CCTV cameras in the Warrnambool city
centre, Lake Pertobe, Viaduct Road, the Port of
Warrnambool and the railway station car park. Warrnambool and Moyne Youth Awards
Warrnambool City Council owns and maintains the CCTV COVID-19 couldn’t stop the Warrnambool and Moyne
camera network and Victoria Police is responsible for Youth Awards, with the event live streamed on Friday May
monitoring and managing CCTV images and recorded 8.
data.
The awards recognise the achievements of people aged
12-25 who demonstrate virtues including cooperation,
resilience, responsibility, kindness and passion.
Street Tree Planting The ceremony was hosted by radio presenter, author and
former Warrnambool resident Alex Dyson and streamed on
Facebook, with viewership peaking at 350 simultaneous
screens.
The newly established Youth Showcase was moved online,
with the talents of young local musicians, artists,
filmmakers and entrepreneurs captured in video packages
produced by Colleen Hughson of First Ladies Productions.
These packages, along with other videos posted on
Facebook and Instagram in the weeks leading up to the
awards ceremony have attracted a cumulative 40,000
views.
20 Days for 2020
Each year Council plants hundreds of trees around the city While COVID-19 has changed the way in which we all go
bringing shade, sequestering carbon, creating habitat and about our daily lives, the Warrnambool City Council
adding to the visual appeal of neighbourhoods. coordinated a series of home-based activities that
highlight the things everyone can still enjoy.
2020 saw in excess of 300 trees planted around the city,
including in new developments, reserves and spaces in The 20 Days for 2020 program involved everything from
established streets. poetry to playdough making and sewing to signwriting.
It’s part of the Warrnambool 2040 (W2040) plan to help
realise the community’s vision for the city in 2040.
More room to run at dog park
Dogs and their owners now have twice the space to enjoy
Warrnambool City Council - 2016-2020
Partnership nets state award These additional clinics were part of Council’s response to
the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Warrnambool City Council’s partnership with South
West TAFE and the Warrnambool VCAL Young Parents
class has been recognised as the best VCAL collaboration
in Victoria.
The group won the Partnership Award at the 2020 VCAL
Achievement Awards held in a virtual format on April 28.
The Warrnambool VCAL Young Parents class allows
people with pre-school children to further their education
in a flexible environment alongside their child.
Online auctions introduced at livestock
exchange
Buyers have been able to bid on cattle in real time as sales These special clinics were conducted at the Lighthouse
from the South West Victorian Livestock Exchange have Theatre with strict processes in place to ensure physical
begun streaming online. distancing safety measures are adhered to for all clients
and staff.
The service is delivered by online platform StockLive.
With the challenges and restrictions on physical
attendance presented by the current COVID-19 Free city centre parking
environment, the Warrnambool livestock agents sought to
increase exposure of the region’s high quality livestock to
the broadest array of buyers. Parking was free in Warrnambool from March until July 20,
2020 as part of Council’s COVID-19 response.
Buyers both locally and interstate can now be reached by
interfacing the live sales at SWVLX through the Stocklive The aim was to make it easy for people to come into the
platform. city centre and quickly obtain the items they need.
Time limits remained in place, and in July, Council altered
its free parking offering in response to feedback from
businesses that CBD workers were regularly overstaying
Thousands tune in to LoungeFest limits.
Warrnambool’s first ever virtual music festival was a huge From July 20, free parking was available in the 2P spaces
success. in the Ozone, Parkers and Cramond & Dickson carparks
until 11am each day.
Viewership of Get Around Warrnambool - LoungeFest
peaked at 1800 simultaneous screens on Saturday April
11, instantly making the concert one of the biggest in the
city’s history.
Kerbside glass collection
With live music venues closed due to COVID-19, the idea
was to create a virtual music festival to bring the talents of Warrnambool City Council’s kerbside glass collection
South West musicians to loungerooms everywhere. program begun in February 2020.
Musicians either sent in recordings made especially for the About 3400 properties in two trial areas have had the lids
event, or if that wasn’t possible, they submitted footage on their 80L rubbish bins swapped from red to purple –
from previous gigs.This was then broadcast on the becoming a glass-only bin.
Warrnambool City Council, COAST FM and Fitz Media
Productions Facebook pages as well as on the radio at At the same time, they received a new, larger, 140L
95.3 COAST FM. rubbish bin.
The three parts of the festival have attracted a cumulative Glass collections began February coincided with the
47,000 views on Facebook either live or on demand. introduction of fortnightly rubbish collections in the trial
areas.
Following the 2019 recycling crisis shining a spotlight on
the industry, separating glass from paper and cardboard
Flu clinics was identified as one of the best ways to make sure as
much recycled material as possible is able to be re-used.
Warrnambool City Council ran a series of influenza
immunisation clinics during April 2020 which are open to The kerbside glass collection was supplemented with
the general public. bottle banks at Bunnings, the Dennington Shopping
Centre and Norfolk Plaza. These will accept all household
Warrnambool City Council - 2016-2020
glass.
Glass from the bottle banks has already been put to use
as a substitute for sand in the road making process. About
60,000 glass bottles and jars from the bottle banks, as well
as Moyne Shire’s kerbside collection, were used to rebuild
Walsh Road in June 2020.
Glass from the Warrnambool kerbside collection is being
held by Wheelie Waste ahead of being graded and
crushed for use in local concrete manufacturing.
A new bridge over Russells Creek
Students heading to and from school and the public can
now access a new bridge across Russells Creek. the development of safety and standards protocols.
The project aligns with the long-term community plan,
Warrnambool 2040, which contains a goal for the
Warrnambool municipality to be carbon-neutral by 2040
with energy provided by renewable sources.
Lake Pertobe – A New Playspace for
Everyone
The $90,000 bridge, east of Bromfield Street, has been
funded by Warrnambool City Council and St Joseph’s
Primary School.
Made of pre-cast concrete by a local manufacturer, the
new 6.2m bridge replaces an old timber structure that had
become unsafe and could no longer be used. A major $2.9 million for Lake Pertobe upgrade is being
funded in equal parts by the Australian Government’s
In the 2019/2020 financial year, funded by the two per cent Building Better Regions Fund and Warrnambool City
rate cap variation, Council is investing $374,000 on Council.
renewing 600 lineal metres of footpath which include
Pertobe Road in front of the carnival site; Cannon Hill from Throughout 2016 and 2017 Council asked Warrnambool
the Portuguese monument to Pertobe Road and stretches residents and visitors what they loved about Lake Pertobe
of footpath along Russells Creek, St James Park and and how they would like to see it improved.
Gateway Road.
From that extensive engagement process a master plan
was developed. The plan was critical to attracting a $1.45
million grant through the Australian Government’s Building
Better Regions Fund, which matched a commitment from
$2 million for hydrogen project Council.
Deakin University’s Warrnambool hydrogen energy project Designs for the Lake Pertobe Adventure Park have been
received a $2 million Australian Government grant in released.
December 2019.
The playground is a component of the upgrade which will
The funding will support the first stage of a hydrogen hub also include a new toilet block at McGennans Car Park,
to enable the creation of a research, manufacturing and all-abilities paths and a walking trail which will
supply chain project in Warrnambool. acknowledge the environment and culture of the space.
Deakin University will lead the project with Kenworth and
Warrnambool City Council.
When the initial phase is complete, Deakin University will Wollaston Bridge restored
work to establish a 4.5ha hydrogen precinct site that will
support fuel cell manufacturing, gas pipeline testing and Wollaston Bridge was officially re-opened in December
Warrnambool City Council - 2016-2020
2019 after a $335,000 restoration project Annual resealing program
The project included: Each year Council carries out a road resealing program to
help maintain its road network.
• Improving the abutments connecting the bridge to
the path network While most of the streets scheduled to be resurfaced
seem to be in good condition at a glance, tell-tale signs of
• Replacing timber cross beams and bracing as wear have begun to emerge in the form of thin cracks.
critical structural support for the suspension bridge
These cracks allow water to seep into the lower, more
• Replacing deteriorated timber bottom truss, expensive sections of the road base and eventually create
sections of top truss and several posts potholes while shortening the effective lifespan of the
road.
• Installation new decking and kerb in a
contemporary arrangement for improved cyclist and By carrying out an annual resealing program, much of this
pedestrian safety costly damage can be prevented.
Since 2015, Council has entered into a partnership with
the Corangamite Shire Council in calling for tenders to
A Very Liebig Christmas complete resealing works in both municipalities, a move
which allows both councils to benefit from efficiencies due
to economies of scale.
Irrigation and drainage upgrade for
Davidson Oval
In October 2019, Council welcomed Victorian Government
funding of $100,000 for an irrigation project at Davidson
Oval.
The funding will deliver installation of automated sub-
surface irrigation along with drainage work to improve the
eastern area of the oval.
Council will contribute $50,000 to the project.
Christmas came early to Warrnambool in 2018 and 2019,
with the city’s newly upgraded main street hosting a
Christmas-themed street party in the lead up to the
holiday season. Warrnambool named Australia’s most
liveable city
Not only did the 2018 event attract a big crowd to the
city’s newly redeveloped main street, it was the third Warrnambool and the South West comprise the most
biggest trading day in Warrnambool that year. liveable region in Australia, according to the latest Ipsos
Life in Australia study published in September 2019.
When compared to the equivalent Friday of the previous
year, spending in the city increased by $220,000, with Warrnambool came out on top based on factors including
3200 additional transactions. a sense of community, access to the natural environment,
affordable housing, high quality health services, good job
prospects and feeling safe.
In reaching number one Warrnambool outscored innerWarrnambool City Council - 2016-2020
Perth, Central Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills, Sydney’s footpath.
eastern suburbs, and the inner east and inner south
suburbs of Melbourne.
Other regional areas to score highly were the South East of
South Australia, the Murray region of NSW and the
Sunshine Coast.
Ipsos is a global market research and consulting company
which has its headquarters in Paris, France, and offices in
more than 80 countries including Australia.
Infrastructure upgrade at AquaZone
One of the overarching principles of the City Centre
Renewal, which came from extensive feedback from
community workshops, is to create a welcoming, safe
place for pedestrians of all mobility levels.
Choir finds its voice
Council was among the many supporters of the
inspirational 170-strong Find Your Voice all-abilities choir.
The three indoor pools at AquaZone reopened in August
2019 after several weeks during which time the aquatic
centre’s ageing climate control and water treatment
systems were replaced.
The new systems have created a better atmosphere within
the pool hall while the new water treatment system uses
liquid chlorine and UV lamps instead of chlorine gas to
sanitise the pools and is a safer system for AquaZone staff
to operate.
The deck surrounding the pools has a new anti-slip
treatment that not only improves safety but has brightened
the indoor space.
The choir was established by singer-songwriter Tom
Richardson and all-abilities advocate Kylie Thulborn.
The climate control system features more energy-efficient
boilers linked to a computerised system that allows the
boilers to switch on and off automatically to maintain the It has performed at a number of events including the Port
hall temperature. Fairy Folk Festival and in 2019 performed in front of an
audience of 2500 as part of the Australia’s Got Talent
television program.
A new fabric ducting system helps better control humidity.
This system is also easier to maintain as sections can be
unzipped and removed for repairs or replacement. In 2020 the choir also featured in Lounge Fest, an online
event featuring South West musicians and performers,
which was put together to bring artists and audiences
together while COVID-19 restrictions were in place.
Major upgrades at Kepler Street Cannon Hill view restored
intersections
A small copse of Casuarina trees was removed from
Major work to improve the intersections of Kepler Street at Cannon Hill in August 2019 to open up the view across
Koroit and Timor streets respectively were completed in Lake Pertobe.
mid-2019.
The trees were replaced with several species of low-
The intersections were upgraded with “pedestrian priority” growing native shrubs, including the endemic Granny’s
zebra crossings consistent with the roundabouts in Liebig Grave correa.
Street where it intersects with Lava, Koroit and Timor
streets as well as a new road surface, lighting and Over recent years there have been ongoing nativeWarrnambool City Council - 2016-2020
plantings on Cannon Hill and Council has also removed a Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages.
number of cypress trees to help maintain the view and to
tip the balance towards native plants being the dominant
vegetation type in the area.
Smarter Watering at Mack Oval
A new irrigation system at Mack Oval is saving water,
money and volunteer time.
The system covers the entire playing surface and is able to
be controlled remotely, so club volunteers no longer have
to visit the oval to move sprinklers or turn them on and off.
Major Upgrade at the WAG
The Warrnambool Art Gallery was closed to the public
from August 2019 until January 2020 while a new climate
control system was installed.
The new heating, ventilation and cooling system allows the
WAG to present exhibitions and store collection items in
an environment that meets industry standards.
The environment for patrons and staff will also be
improved as a result of this upgrade.
WAG presents about 30 exhibitions annually, with half of
these sourced externally, either from practising artists or
from other cultural institutions through a loan arrangement.
WAG has more than 2000 items in its collection.
Watering can now be automated to take place at night
reducing the costs to tenant clubs associated with
electricity and power consumption.
The Victorian Government committed $90,000 to the Warrnambool, Moyne and Corangamite
project while the Warrnambool City Council contributed team up on ICT
$52,014.
Corangamite and Moyne Shire Councils and Warrnambool
City Council will share $4.5 million to improve the quality,
effectiveness and affordability of services to their
A New City Entrance Sign ratepayers.
Anyone approaching Warrnambool from the east will Minister for Local Government Adem Somyurek
experience an even warmer welcome than usual, with the announced the funding in July 2019 as part of the $20
city’s new entrance signage installed today. million Rural Councils Transformation Program.
Four separate panels showcase iconic Warrnambool The funding allows the three Local Governments to better
imagery including a whale, penguins, a maremma dog, serve their communities by addressing the increasing
Norfolk Island pines and the city’s skyline. technology demands and costs.
In November 2018 four concept designs for a new city It will also allow the councils to combine the core
entrance sign were presented to the community for technology platform of each council—into a shared service
feedback. More than 200 people had their say, which model.
helped to determine the preferred concept to base the
new signage on while taking on board feedback for
alterations.
New Path for Worm Bay Road
An important component of the artwork for the signage
panels was the integration of Gundijtmara language A new path at Warrnambool’s foreshore was constructed
phrases developed in collaboration with Dr Vicki Couzens, in mid-2019, creating a new walking loop while providing
Gunditjmara Language Custodian and Chairperson atWarrnambool City Council - 2016-2020
better access to the beach. Great South Coast region has been officially launched in
June in Warrnambool.
The Great South Coast Designated Area Migration
Agreement (DAMA) provides an opportunity for regional
employers to be endorsed to hire overseas workers for
The 300m path runs along the south side of Worm Bay
Road from the skate park to the Worm Bay car park.
The work complements a new path and beach access
staircase linking the car park to the promenade and beach
completed in December 2018.
roles that cannot be filled by Australian residents.
The DAMA is an Australian Government initiative with the
Great South Coast DAMA a first for Victoria and the first to
W2040 be driven by Local Government.
Completed in June 2019, Warrnambool 2040 (W2040) is a A total of 27 occupations have been identified as eligible
community plan developed through an extensive for consideration through the program and are across a
community-led process. The plan captures the variety of industries.
community's aspirations for the future of Warrnambool via
four visions and nineteen goals which cover The DAMA provides concessions not normally available to
Warrnambool’s Environment, Economy, Place and People. visa workers, and it offers a potential pathway to
permanent residency for employees.
Thousands of residents and hundreds of clubs, groups,
schools, businesses and community organisations shared
their ‘Wishes for Warrnambool’ and their aspirations for
the future of the City.
Business support generated $3.5 million-
plus
Safer Boat Launching Facilities Two of the key business promotions during the city centre
renewal generated more than $3.5 million in retail
In May 2019 the Victorian Government has announced spending.
funding of $420,000 to go towards the detailed design
work on safer boat launching infrastructure at the Port of
Warrnambool.
The funding will be used by Warrnambool City Council to
prepare the business case, detailed design, planning and
approvals for an upgraded Warrnambool boat ramp and
the breakwater.
Once this is complete, Council will be in a strong position
to attract further Victorian Government funding to carry out
the construction phase of the project, which will include
significant repairs to the breakwater, a two or three lane
porous boat ramp, an overhaul of the car parks and new
The $1 million promotion and the Find the Five promotion
terraces beach seating.
were among a range of initiatives undertaken by Council to
support businesses impacted by the City Centre Renewal
construction.
New approach to tackling labour shortages The findings were contained in an evaluation of the
business support efforts presented at the May 2019
A new program to tackle labour shortages in Victoria’s Council meeting.Warrnambool City Council - 2016-2020
Fifteen south-west businesses took part in the program,
which concluded in March 2019.
Sharing knowledge on renewable energy The China Host Program was a partnership between the
Warrnambool City, Moyne Shire and Corangamite Shire
Warrnambool has officially teamed up with the city of councils, South-West TAFE, Great Ocean Road Regional
Mariestad in Sweden to tackle climate change and create Tourism, Asialink Business, Dragon Tail International and
new employment opportunities. the Australian Tourism and Export Council.
A new community house
The West Warrnambool Neighbourhood House officially
opened in March 2019.
Similar to the house in Fleetwood Court in East
Warrnambool, this is a place for community members to
come together to have fun, learn new things and connect
with their neighbours.
A Swedish delegation joined Australian experts for a
special presentation at Deakin University on April 29.
A Memorandum of Understanding between the two cities
was also signed as part of the visit.
Mariestad has partnered with renewables firm Nilsson
Energy to introduce new technology that stores renewable
energy as hydrogen and uses the hydrogen to power
vehicles and heat buildings.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the house also served as
a vital contact for vulnerable people in the community in
Warrnambool says “no” to drilling in the need of food and other essential supplies.
Great Australian Bight
Warrnambool City Council officially condemned
exploratory drilling for oil and gas in the Great Australian
Bight at its meeting in April 2019. City Centre Renewal
Council voted unanimously to become the 16th Australian The construction phase of the once-in-a-generation City
and the fourth Victorian Council to lodge its opposition to Centre Renewal began in early 2017 with Liebig Street fully
a proposal by Norwegian company Equinor. transformed by the end of 2018.
In February 2020, Equinor announced it had abandoned The project realised community aspirations for a modern
their plans to drill for oil in the Great Australian Bight. city centre that prioritised people over cars.
$15 million in capital works is a once in-a-generation
project which is funded by Warrnambool City Council, the
Victorian Government and the Australian Government.
South-west leads the way in China
readiness Works included:
Tourism hot-spots around Australia could follow in the - Widening the existing footpath and laying bluestone
footsteps of south-west Victoria, with the China Host pavers sourced from Bamstone in Port Fairy
Program earmarked for a national roll-out.
- Pedestrian crossings at all intersections
In 2018, the Warrnambool City Council secured $150,000
of Victorian Government funding to lead an Australian-first - The removal of kerbing to create a footpath that is level
mentoring program to help businesses in the Great Ocean with the road surface
Road region capitalise on the booming Chinese tourism
industry. - New lighting and street furnitureWarrnambool City Council - 2016-2020
- Public art The carpark can be accessed off Merri Street near Gilles
Street or at the train station.
- Significant underground infrastructure work
2017 saw Liebig Street upgraded between Raglan Parade
and Koroit Street, while work moved to the block between
Koroit and Timor streets in 2018.
Kerbside FOGO collection introduced
As well as the construction project itself, Council invested Following a successful trial that began in March 2017, a
heavily in business support with initiatives including games kerbside FOGO collection was rolled out to all residents by
to incentivise local shopping such as the Million Dollar July 2018.
Promotion and Find the Five, the CBDMe campaign to
showcase the people behind local businesses,
professional development and marketing workshops as
well us events such as the Liebig Block Party and A Very
Liebig Christmas.
Council’s business support efforts were recognised in
2019, winning an Economic Development Australia Award
for Excellence.
Better, longer lasting beach access
In a first for the city, beach access improvements at Worm
Bay and the Yacht Club carpark were constructed in
December 2018 using fibreglass reinforced plastic (FRP)
structures instead of traditional timber.
FOGO allows food and garden waste to be processed
These materials will greatly extend the life of both assets. separately from rubbish, which costs less money and is
better for the environment.
A new staircase at Worm Bay links the beach to the
promenade and the Worm Bay carpark. The improved Households received a green-lidded wheelie bin that is
construction techniques use deep screw pile footings to collected fortnightly as well as a kitchen caddy and
prevent damage to the footings, sandbags to stabilise the compostable liners to collect their FOGO material.
dune and new slip resistant composite FRP grating
decking.
FOGO sees organic material from Warrnambool
households collected and turned into compost rather than
going into landfill.
Railway precinct parking upgrade Approximately 45 per cent of material in the average
household rubbish bin is FOGO material.
One of Warrnambool’s largest car parking upgrades in
years was completed in December 2018. Diverting FOGO from Warrnambool’s garbage bins has the
potential to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by
The expanded Warrnambool train station carpark provides 4000 tonnes of CO2 e (carbon dioxide equivalent)
179 additional free all day spaces. annually.
The works, which also include new CCTV cameras and This equates to removing 857 cars off the road every year.
lighting upgrades, were funded by the Victorian
Government’s Road and Rail Minor Works Program.Warrnambool City Council - 2016-2020
A new home for petanque in Warrnambool economy.
Warrnambool’s first official petanque facility has officially This was the first time that Warrnambool had hosted the
opened on Pertobe Road in December 2018. event since 2001, and was a reflection of major upgrades
carried out over recent years to make the Warrnambool
Similar to lawn bowls and bocce, petanque sees teams BMX track one of the best in the state.
score points by throwing their boules as close as possible
to a target jack.
Flood protection for north-east
Warrnambool
A $3.5 million stormwater project will help protect homes
from flooding in Warrnambool’s north-east.
Stormwater from a 24ha catchment leading up to
Wanstead Street is now diverted to a series of water
storages in the centre of the Warrnambool Racecourse.
The water travels initially along 1800mm diameter pipes
flowing into 2100mm pipe as more catchment is
intercepted, all leading to a 20-megalitre storage basin on
the racecourse.
This stormwater harvesting project is part of a larger
drainage project for north-east Warrnambool that includes
the rehabilitation of the Simpson Street stormwater tunnel.
The playing area, known as a piste, was constructed from
recycled plastic. The piste has a sandstone base with a
layer of quartz on the surface.
An informal group has been playing regularly in Upgrade for Boiling Down Road
Warrnambool since 2016
Boiling Down Road between Gateway Road and Horne
The project was funded via Council’s Small Infrastructure Road was reconstructed and widened in early 2019.
Fund.
This upgrade allowed for two lanes of traffic to use the
popular linkage.
BMX Championships roll into Warrnambool
Four-time national champion Brandon Te Hiko was among
1100 competitors who took part in the BMX Victoria State
Championships in Warrnambool in November 2018.
The three day event began with pre-title racing and
practice sessions before racing hit top gear for the open
Regional Roads Victoria contributed $680,000 to the
project while Council contributed $150,000.
Irrigation, power and lighting upgrades for
Merrivale Recreation Reserve
Merrivale Recreation Reserve received a power upgrade,
state titles. improved lighting and irrigation as a result of partnership
involving the Victorian Government, Council, a local trust
As well as 1100 competitors, about 1500 family members and reserve stakeholders.
and spectators came to Warrnambool for the
championships, which was great news for our local Victorian Government provided $250,000 from itsWarrnambool City Council - 2016-2020
Community Sports and Infrastructure Fund towards the A new accessible swing set was installed at Lake Pertobe
in July 2018.
$605,000 project.
The timber A-frame swing has two seats: one for toddlers
The remaining funding will come from Council ($190,000), and one for older children. Both have high backs to offer
Merrivale Football Netball Club ($135,000) and the Gwen maximum support and also include adjustable harnesses.
and Edna Jones Foundation ($30,000).
A new concrete footpath leads to the swing, which has
soft rubber matting around its base.
The swing is also close to the accessible toilet facilities
Bursting from the deep and a barbecue.
Liebig Street became home to a stunning new sculpture in
late 2018.
Crawley Street playground upgrade
A new playground in Crawley Street was completed in July
2018.
“Seal” by Natimuk artist Dave Jones will surface from the
pavement near 86 Liebig Street, the east side of the street.
Expressions of interest were sought through a Public Art
National Tender that would contribute to Warrnambool’s
cultural landscape.
The new structure includes a slide, climbing and balancing
Already installed in Phase 1 is Julie Squires’ seven bronze elements, monkey bars and a spinner.
‘Little Penguins’.
A new concrete footpath, seating and natural landscaping
Two other public art elements were included in Phase 1. have also been installed.
These were Gobo lights - which can be changed
according to event and season, and stainless steel planter The playground is expected to be able to be enjoyed by
boxes featuring the artwork of local artists, Marion the local community for at least the next 20 years, and
Manifold and Aunty Brownyn Razem. was completed as part of Council’s annual Playground
Renewal Program.
New accessible swing for Lake Pertobe
Safe sporting and social spaces out eastWarrnambool City Council - 2016-2020
The East Warrnambool Community Parks were declared redeveloped football change rooms and umpire change
open in June 2018. rooms and upgrading power, water and sewer services.
The new changerooms feature improved facilities and
there are male and female umpire changerooms.
The centrepiece of the parks project is Wavelinks Park
which features a basketball court, skate elements and
paths lit by solar-powered lighting.
The $564,000 project was the result of a partnership Council was contributing the major funding share of
between Council and the community with funding $374,500.
provided by Council, Sport and Recreation Victoria and
the Department of Justice and Regulation.
Warrnambool’s 100th birthday
New playground and mural for Stanley On May 23, 1918 the Governor of Victoria, Sir Arthur
Street Stanley, stood on a platform at the corner of Liebig and
Timor streets and declared Warrnambool a city.
An ageing playground next to South Warrnambool
Kindergarten was replaced in June 2018.
The $90,000 renewal was funded via Council’s Playground
Renewal Program. The playground complements the
Warrnambool was just the fourth non-metropolitan town in
Victoria to achieve city status.
In 2018, to mark the centenary anniversary of
seven-metre Ngeerrang (Mother) and Ngart (Daughter) Warrnambool as a city the community was invited to a
Mural which was created by mother daughter team Fiona celebration at Flagstaff Hill, with hundreds attending.
Clarke and Patricia McKean in February.
Admission was free and people enjoyed a free barbecue,
music from Warrnambool Pipes and Drums and the
Warrnambool Brass Band, children’s activities including
face painting, bus tours of historic sites in Warrnambool
Dennington Pavilion Redevelopment and more.
The $638,000 redevelopment of the Dennington As part of the commemoration, a time capsule was sealed
Recreation Reserve pavilion was completed in mid-2018. and buried in the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens. It will be
unearthed in 2118.
Warrnambool City Council, the Dennington Football
Netball Club and the Dennington Cricket Club worked
closely together to coordinate implementation of the
project, which includes new home football change rooms,Warrnambool City Council - 2016-2020
Road rehab in the industrial west
In March 2018, work began on a $1.966 million road
rehabilitation in the West Warrnambool industrial precinct.
The project area includes Koroit Street from the western
end of the showground to McMeekin Road, Giffen Street
from McMeekin Road to just past the Atkins Road
intersection, McMeekin Road between Koroit Street and
just past the Cooper Street intersection, and Scott Street
from McMeekin Road to Strong Street.
The foam bitumen stabilization method, which is a faster
process, saves ratepayers about 30 per cent on the cost
of more traditional road building techniques and still
provides an anticipated life span of 30 to 40 years.
The project was funded by Warrnambool City Council and
the Australian Government’s Roads to Recovery program. Tobacco test purchasing
Council is required to carry out test purchasing each year
Nature Kindergarten
in accordance with the Tobacco Act.
The program is funded by the Victorian Department of
Health and involves a person aged 15 or 16 attempting to
In 2018, Council began incorporating regular nature-based purchase cigarettes from tobacco retailers without proof of
play into its kindergarten program. age.
Mahogany, Florence Collins and City kindergartens were Each year, about 50 tobacco retailers are tested.
the first to incorporate Nature Kindergarten into their
programs, with other kindergartens following in More than 90 per cent of Australians who currently smoke
subsequent years. began as teenagers.
This sees children learning in bushland, at the beach,
among rock pools and at gardens and parks on a regular
basis.
What fun we had
After 19 fabulous festivals, the 2017 Fun4Kids Festival was
the final instalment.
BeachFest
The festival garnered national awards and brought smiles
Set on the Warrnambool Foreshore and surrounds, to thousands of families while providing valuable work
BeachFest is an incredible family event offering a range of experience for hundreds of volunteers.
predominantly free beachside activities from December 27
to Australia Day. While the festival still drew crowds, in recent years those
crowds had become smaller. The smaller attendance,
BeachFest began in December 2016 and has run every coupled with growing financial pressures on local
summer since, with activities including sand sculpting government and changing family holiday choices, were
workshops, African drumming classes, beach sports also factors in the decision.
(cricket, netball, soccer, rugby and volleyball), surfing
lessons and much more. Council took a fresh approach to events in the city to
ensure that Warrnambool continues to be a great year-
round family destination.Warrnambool City Council - 2016-2020
The $187,000 upgrade is entirely funded by the Federal
Government’s Black Spot Program.
There are now more events spread across the whole year
with the focus still on delivering ‘Fun4Kids’.
New cardio equipment at AquaZone Fund for new homebuyers
More than 40 people have bought new homes in
Warrnambool with the help of a unique grant available
through Warrnambool City Council.
The program, which aims to help Warrnambool residents
realise the dream of owning their own home, ended in
June 2017.
The existing treadmills, cross trainers, bikes and
recumbent cycles at AquaZone were all replaced in March
2017 with brand-new equipment from leading fitness
manufacturer, TechnoGym.
Two “SkillMills”, which are versatile variations of a
traditional treadmill, have also been added.
As part of the upgrade, the gymnasium space has been When launched in 2013 Council’s North Dennington
renovated, removing an office and creating more open Housing Affordability Program provided the assistance
floor space. many people needed to help crack the challenging
housing market.
A brand-new fleet of spin bikes was also unveiled while
the space currently occupied by the crèche is now a dual- This initiative, made possible with support from the
purpose area. Australian Government’s Building Better Regional Cities
program and made grants of up to $20,000 available to
eligible applicants. The program also included the $2.5
million construction of Coghlans Road in 2014.
Upgrade of Howard/Nelson Street
Intersection
Works to make the Howard Street / Nelson Street
Irrigation upgrade for Walter Oval
intersection in central Warrnambool safer for all road users
were carried out in March and April 2017. Walter Oval will received a modern, efficient irrigation
system thanks to funding from the State Government and
the Warrnambool City Council.
The works included new traffic islands and pedestrian
refuges, green bike lanes, a new footpath and lighting
upgrades as well as kerb narrowing on each corner and In January 2017, the Victorian Government pledged
the removal of trees. $100,000 for the project via the Community SportsWarrnambool City Council - 2016-2020
Infrastructure Fund.
This is in addition to $120,000 provided by the
Warrnambool City Council.
The Friends of Jubilee Park, with the assistance of Elder
Rob Lowe, Joel Wright from the Victorian Aboriginal
Language Corporation and the Gunditj Mirring, Kuuyang
Maar and Eastern Maar groups, submitted a joint naming
The project will included the upgrade of the existing bore request to Council.
and bore pump as well as the installation of an automated
irrigation system. A new sign with the joint name was officially unveiled on
December 8 2017
A fourth return train service
Smarter parking system for the city centre
In December 2017 a new smart parking system was
introduced in Warrnambool’s city centre.
A fourth daily Warrnambool-Melbourne return rail service
began in January 2017, a move welcomed by
Warrnambool City Council.
The new “pay-by-plate” system means you don’t need to
This was a very positive outcome, and one that Council print out a ticket and walk back to your car to display it.
had advocated strongly for.
Motorists simply key their number plate details into a new
The additional service provides more convenient departure meter or a smartphone app, select the parking time zone
and arrival times at both the Melbourne and Warrnambool in which they have parked and pay via coin, card or
ends of the line, making it easier for people to visit through the app.
Warrnambool or Warrnambool residents to visit Melbourne
or Geelong for shopping, study, medical appointments and Currently, approximately one in three parking sessions in
visiting friends and family. Warrnambool is paid for using the app, an incredibly
positive uptake figure, according to CellOPark.
Indigenous recognition at Woodford
Liebig Street Block Party
The upgraded Jubilee Park at Woodford has a new dual
name which recognises the indigenous history of the area. Council hosted a “Block Party” in Liebig Street in
November 2017 to help celebrate to completion of Stage I
The park is now known as Jubilee Park – Wurrumbit Birrng of the City Centre Renewal.
Yaar.
Hundreds of people came to see how Liebig Street hadWarrnambool City Council - 2016-2020
been transformed while enjoying free family activities sister-city relationship between Miura, Japan and
(including a live DJ, touch-a-truck, face painting, and Warrnambool, had some renovations, maintenance work
Tradie Town) and checking out the great specials and new signs completed in August 2017.
businesses will be offering throughout the day.
The outdoor food court had more lunch and snack options Despite being constructed in mid-1990s, it remains one of
than you could shake a fork at and the crowd cheered on Warrnambool’s hidden gems.
Dennington resident Zoe Pennings as she took her chance
in the $1 million draw. While Zoe didn’t end the day a This site was blessed on May 4 1998 by Kannushi Yoneda,
millionaire, she was still very pleased to win $10,000. a Shinto Priest from Miura.
Council Supports Marriage Equality A fresh welcome to Logans Beach
The rainbow flag has been flying in front of the Civic Signage directing people to the popular Logans Beach
Centre since September 2017 as a show of support for whale viewing platform were upgraded in July 2017.
marriage equality and the rights of the LGBTIQ+
community. The signs on the corner of Logans Beach and Blue Hole
roads and at the entrance of the Logans Beach carpark
The installation of the flagpole and rainbow flag followed a have been redesigned.
vote by Council in July to write to State and Federal
Members of Parliament, the Victorian Equal Opportunity Both signs now feature an image of a breaching whale
and Human Rights Commission and the Commonwealth taken by Warrnambool photographer Perry Cho of Patient
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Eye Imaging.
advising them of this support.
As well as a design that more closely reflects the Great
On 9 December 2017, the right to marry in Australia was Ocean Road Regional Tourism brand for Warrnambool,
no longer determined by sex or gender following a national internationally recognised symbols for “toilets” and
vote. “information” have been added.
Hidden gem gets a polish East Warrnambool Lighting Upgrade
The Warrnambool Japanese Garden, which celebrates the More than 60 new solar lights were installed in five EastWarrnambool City Council - 2016-2020 Warrnambool parks as part of a $210,000 upgrade. The lights will illuminate footpaths through parks near Wanstead Street, Fleetwood Court, Melanesia Court and Gateway Road. The LED lights, equipped with motion sensors, will emit 20 lux when someone is nearby, dropping down to 5 lux at other times to save energy. Each light incorporates a solar panel and a lithium-ion battery. They can function for approximately 30 hours (two to three nights) without any sunlight, and only require a small amount of sunlight to recharge.
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