Gippsland

Gippsland offers a variety of natural attractions like no where else in Victoria. Unspoilt beaches, pristine rainforests, snowfields, hiking and riding trails provide backdrops for wineries and food producers, festivals for residents and tourists to indulge in all year long.

The Gippsland region is benefiting from a range of investments including:

• $30 million for the Latrobe Valley Industry and Employment Roadmap to build long term job security and growth and support the region’s transition to a low carbon economy
• An additional $400,000 for Traralgon Tennis Complex Resurfacing. This is a significant upgrade to a regional facility that will improve liveability and recreational facilities in the region
• $800,000 for the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail Traralgon to Toongabbie.

Key town centres

Bairnsdale, Churchill, Drouin, Foster, Inverloch, Korumburra, Lakes Entrance, Leongatha, Mallacoota, Moe, Morwell, Omeo, Orbost, Phillip Island, Sale, Traralgon, Warragul and Wonthaggi.

Municipalities

• Bass Coast Shire
• Baw Baw Shire
• East Gippsland Shire
• Latrobe City
• South Gippsland Shire
• Wellington Shire

Learning and education

The Gippsland region is home to 51 pre-schools, 170 primary schools, 39 secondary schools, Gippsland TAFE and Monash University Churchill campus.

Employment and industry

As Victoria’s energy powerhouse, Gippsland has traditional strengths in energy generation and resource extraction and vast oil, coal and natural gas reserves. The western half of the region in the Latrobe Valley is strongly linked to the mining and utilities industries, while the southern areas are one of Australia’s major dairy centres.

Fitness and fun

Water skiing, surfing, snow skiing, tennis, four-wheel driving, football and cricket are just a few of the ways Gippsland residents fill in their weekends. Others prefer to horse ride through Noojee, fly fish on the Thomson River, or hike in Wilsons Promontory National Park instead.

Art and culture

Art galleries, museums and restaurants available throughout the year, and Gippsland hosts a variety of major festivals including the Gippsland Writers Festival, Raw Vibes Annual Youth Festival, Maffra Mardi Gras, A Taste of Prom Country and Baw Baw’s Harvest of Gippsland Festival. The West Gippsland Arts Centre at Warragul is a 500-seat venue that has showcased the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Dance Company, and Sale is home to the 400-seat ESSO BHP Billiton Entertainment Centre hosting musicals, operas and comedy.

Opportunities

• Tourism potential of coastal and bushland locations (including national parks)
• Expanding intensive and organic food production,
• Recent investment is enhancing Victoria’s potential as a leader in dairy innovation – underpinning a successful, competitive and sustainable dairy industry in the region

Challenges

• Ageing population
• Impact of climate change and associated policies on key industries (farming, forestry and mining)
• Energy sector facing significant challenges resulting from global shift to a low carbon economy.

Visit here for more details about Gippsland's outlook

Following is the Gippsland Regional plan as presentated to the Victorian Government: