Bass Coast Shire Council Case for Action
Bass Coast is experiencing sustained population growth, with
increasing demand for youth services and accessible
infrastructure.
- 26%
of residents identify as having a disability
- 50%
of people aged over 65 in Gippsland live with a disability
- The
population aged 65+ is projected to grow by 45.9% by 2031
- Around
one in five residents are children and young people
At the same time, demand across the life course is increasing.
- Youth
services are experiencing increased demand, with limited local capacity to
respond
- Accessible
infrastructure is not keeping pace with population needs
In regional communities, service access is constrained by:
- distance
and transport barriers
- limited
provider presence and workforce availability
- lower
levels of sustained investment
Demand is rising faster than system capacity.
1. The Problem
Accessible Infrastructure
Many public spaces, including beaches and walking trails, do
not meet modern accessibility expectations.
This limits:
- independence
for older residents
- participation
for people with disability
- safe
and independent access for young people, particularly those without access
to transport
- everyday
access to community life
Youth Services
Access to youth health and support services is limited
across Bass Coast.
This results in:
- delayed
access to early intervention and mental health support
- increased
risk of disengagement from education and community
- young
people travelling outside the region or missing out on care altogether
2. The System Gap
These challenges are structural and cannot be addressed by Council alone.
- Youth services rely on sustained operational funding and workforce availability
- Infrastructure upgrades require capital investment beyond local government capacity
- Regional areas experience market failure, with limited private sector provision
- Service delivery is fragmented across agencies, with no coordinated regional model
Council is increasingly required to fill gaps that sit outside its core role.
This is not sustainable.
3. Why This Matters Now
Without intervention:
- children miss out on early learning opportunities critical to development and school readiness
- young people experience delayed support and increased disengagement
- access inequities widen across the community
- demand for services outpaces supply
- pressure on Council to provide or subsidise services increases
- regional disadvantage deepens
This is a system pressure, not a local issue.
4. Council’s Role
Bass Coast Shire Council is not the primary service provider for these areas.
Council’s role is to:
- provide local evidence and community insight
- coordinate advocacy across departments and partners
- support integrated, place-based responses
- advocate to State and Federal Government for investment and system reform
Where priorities align with endorsed Council plans, Council will lead or co-lead advocacy.
Where issues sit outside these priorities, Council will support and amplify partner-led advocacy.
5. Advocacy Priorities
Youth Services and Early Intervention
Objective: Strengthen local access to youth health and support services
Focus:
- Sustained funding for youth services, including the Youth Assist Clinic
- Improved access to early intervention and prevention programs
- Addressing transport and service access barriers
Accessible Community Infrastructure
Objective: Improve access to public spaces for people of all ages and abilities
Focus:
- Upgrading beaches and beach accessibility, walking trails and public infrastructure
- Moving beyond compliance to inclusive design
- Reducing physical barriers to participation
