Overview

Moorabool Shire covers an area of approximately 2,110 square kilometres and is located on the western urban/rural fringe of the Melbourne metropolitan area. The Shire boundaries also extend to the outskirts of Ballarat in the east. The largest town in Moorabool Shire is Bacchus Marsh followed by Ballan. Other townships include Gordon, Blackwood and Myrniong as well as a number of smaller rural communities including Bungaree, Dunnstown, Greendale, Wallace, Mt Egerton, Lal Lal, Barrys Reef, Yendon, Elaine and Rowsley.

The Shire is positioned along the major road and rail transport corridor between the rapidly growing western areas of the Melbourne metropolitan area and the regional centre of Ballarat. It adjoins the western edge of the Melbourne metropolitan area and embraces the major portion of the land along the Melbourne-Ballarat transport corridor which is part of the Melbourne–Adelaide route. The Shire’s growth and development is increasingly influenced by its location on this corridor and the ready transport access to Melbourne, Ballarat and Geelong.

Moorabool Shire Council acknowledges the indigenous history of its land that was traditionally occupied by and connected to a number of Aboriginal communities, most notably the Wathaurong Tribe in the south and west, the Djadja Wurrung Tribe in the northern ranges and the Wurundjeri Tribe in the east.

Strategically prepared

The Moorabool Shire Council has undertaken significant research in preparation for strategic growth:

• Soundly based population projections
• Social infrastructure plan and recreation and open space strategy being developed
• Traffic Management and parking strategies completed
• Land supply identified
• 25 year staged land release strategy developed
• Growth strategies consistent with State policy
• Heritage study completed
• Industrial Areas study completed
• 20-year Financial Plan developed to inform proposed Developer Contributions Plan
• Recent review of overarching policy document (Municipal Strategic Statement) has established guiding strategic intent
• Growing Moorabool Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan developed