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Baw Baw in Gippsland

Baw Baw is made up of Warragul, Ellinbank, Drouin, Trafalgar, Brandy Creek, Baw Baw, Thorpdale, Nilma North, Buln Buln East, Ferndale, Erica, Labertouche, Buln Buln, Noojee, Yarragon, Lillico, Willow Grove, Yarragon South, Jindivick, Coalville, Rawson, Childers, Longwarry, Longwarry North, Rokeby, Neerim South, Drouin West, Thorpdale South, Warragul South, Neerim East, Westbury, Nilma, Drouin East, Vesper, Neerim, Darnum, Poowong East, Neerim Junction, Warragul West, Tetoora Road, Drouin South, Seaview, Lardner, Bona Vista, Moe South, and Cloverlea.

Living in Baw Baw

Baw Baw Overall Liveability Index
Gippsland
60.2
Bass Coast
62.3
East Gippsland
58.4
Latrobe
57.1
South Gippsland
64.3
Wellington
60.7
Collected September 2024

Use the values and experiences matrix to understand the relationship between what your residents believe makes somewhere a good place to live and how they experience their local area in that regard. The matrix highlights the attributes that your community believe needs to maintained and improved to advance overall liveability.

Greater Importance & Worse Experiences    Greater Importance & Better Experiences    Less important attributes

Baw Baw Overall Liveability Index

Baw Baw Overall Liveability Index 60.7

Gippsland Overall Liveability Index

Gippsland Overall Liveability Index 60.2

Baw Baw
Gippsland
Importance
Experience
Feeling safe
Importance
Experience
67%
6.7
61%
6.6
Natural environment
Importance
Experience
61%
7.7
61%
8.0
Health services
Importance
Experience
55%
5.6
55%
5.2
Affordable decent housing
Importance
Experience
44%
5.5
43%
5.3
Sense of community
Importance
Experience
42%
6.7
42%
6.7
A lack of road congestion
Importance
Experience
39%
5.4
27%
6.8
Making your way
Importance
Experience
29%
6.1
26%
6.2
Shopping, leisure & dining
Importance
Experience
28%
5.0
28%
4.9
Good job prospects
Importance
Experience
23%
4.8
32%
4.7
Public transport
Importance
Experience
22%
4.6
22%
4.1
Social cohesion
Importance
Experience
19%
6.3
20%
6.2
Education
Importance
Experience
18%
5.8
20%
5.4
Opportunity for all
Importance
Experience
15%
6.2
19%
5.9
Sports and recreation
Importance
Experience
14%
7.2
15%
7.1
Cultural facilities
Importance
Experience
12%
5.2
12%
5.3
A prosperous economy
Importance
Experience
12%
5.6
18%
5.4
The arrows indicate whether a difference is statistically significant. Significance testing helps determine if a difference between two groups is likely real (shown by an arrow) or due to random chance (no arrow).
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Health and Wellbeing in Baw Baw

Physical Health
How would you rate your physical health?
Do you think your physical health will get better, worse or stay the same over the next year?
Baw Baw (n = 337)
7.2
Very poor
Excellent
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1829)
7.0
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Baw Baw (n = 337)
13%
60%
28%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1829)
12%
59%
29%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Mental Health
How would you rate your mental health?
Do you think your mental health will get better, worse or stay the same over the next year?
Baw Baw (n = 337)
7.4
Very poor
Excellent
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1829)
7.4
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Baw Baw (n = 337)
5%
69%
26%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1829)
7%
70%
23%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Social wellbeing
How would you rate your social wellbeing?
Do you think your social wellbeing will get better, worse or stay the same over the next year?
Baw Baw (n = 337)
7.0
Very poor
Excellent
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1829)
7.1
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Baw Baw (n = 337)
8%
76%
16%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1829)
10%
74%
16%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Financial circumstances in Baw Baw

How would you rate your personal financial circumstances?
Do you think your personal financial circumstance will get worse, stay the same or get better over the next year?
Baw Baw (n = 337)
6.0
Very poor
Excellent
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1829)
6.0
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Baw Baw (n = 337)
30%
50%
21%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1829)
27%
52%
21%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
How often, if ever, are you late meeting your financial commitments?
Do you think the economic situation in your local area will get worse, stay the same or get better over the next year?
Baw Baw (n = 337)
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1743)
Always late
1%
1%
Often late
8%
6%
Sometimes late
30%
28%
Never late
61%
65%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Baw Baw (n = 337)
50%
41%
9%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1829)
50%
42%
8%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Impacts of climate change in Baw Baw

Which of the following best describes your personal views on climate change?
Baw Baw (n = 337)
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1829)
Climate change is happening and is caused entirely or mostly by human activities
44%
39%
Climate change is happening and is caused equally by human activities and natural causes
30%
30%
Climate change is happening and is caused entirely or mostly by natural causes
11%
11%
Climate change is happening, but I am not sure what is causing it
6%
7%
I do not believe climate change is happening
10%
13%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among those that believe in climate change, 44% indicated that their local area is currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 38% expected their local area to feel the effects within their lifetime. Of those, 4% were very confident that their local area would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 32% somewhat confident. 54% were not confident.

Please select the extent to which climate change is impacting or will impact your local area in your lifetime?
How confident are you that your local area will be able to adapt to the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Baw Baw (n = 337)
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1592)
My local area is feeling the effects of climate change
44%
50%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect it will in my lifetime
38%
32%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect it will in my lifetime
17%
18%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Baw Baw (n = 337)
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1306)
Very confident
4%
5%
Somewhat confident
32%
37%
Not very confident
40%
39%
Not at all confident
15%
14%
Don't know
9%
6%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among the group of residents that felt their local area is currently feeling, or will feel, the effects of climate change in their lifetime, the top local area climate-related events were: Bushfires (79%), Extreme heat (65%) and Storms (63%). The top actions residents felt should be taken to address the effects of climate change in their local area were: Protect and enhance local biodiversity (plants and animals) (66%), Educate residents on how to live more sustainably (58%) and Adopt renewable energy sources (51%).

How is your local area currently, or how do you expect it will, feel the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
What do you feel are the best ways to address the effects of climate change in your local area?
Baw Baw (n = 337)
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1292)
Bushfires
79%
73%
Extreme heat
65%
54%
Storms
63%
62%
Severe wind
57%
57%
Flooding
54%
57%
Droughts
49%
49%
Extremely cold temperatures
31%
26%
Earthquakes
13%
12%
Landslide
12%
12%
Sea level rise
8%
29%
Other
8%
8%
Cyclones
5%
3%
None of these
0%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Baw Baw (n = 337)
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1306)
Protect and enhance local biodiversity (plants and animals)
66%
63%
Educate residents on how to live more sustainably
58%
57%
Adopt renewable energy sources
51%
53%
Through more sustainable building and development practices
48%
43%
Reduce pollution of the environment
47%
51%
Conserve natural resources (e.g. air, water, soil, etc.)
46%
50%
Create renewable energy sources
42%
43%
Encourage residents to buy locally
41%
40%
Host renewable energy projects in the local area (e.g. solar, wind, hydro, etc.)
40%
43%
Provide options for recycling waste (e.g. household waste, food waste, e-waste, etc.).
39%
48%
Reduce carbon emissions in the local area
37%
36%
The use of more sustainable transport options
31%
32%
Other
6%
6%
None of these
2%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Impacts of climate change on residents

Among those that believe in climate change, 37% indicated that they themselves are currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 43% expected to within their lifetime. Of those, 6% were very confident that they would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 58% somewhat confident. 31% were not confident.

Please select the extent to which climate change is impacting or will impact you personally in your lifetime?
How confident are you that you personally will be able to adapt to the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Baw Baw (n = 337)
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1592)
I am feeling the effects of climate change
33%
37%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect to in my lifetime
49%
43%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect to in my lifetime
18%
20%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Baw Baw (n = 337)
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1268)
Very confident
6%
10%
Somewhat confident
58%
58%
Not very confident
24%
24%
Not at all confident
7%
5%
Don't know
4%
4%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among the group of residents that felt they are currently feeling, or will feel, the effects of climate change in their lifetime, the top personal impacts were: Increased household running costs (e.g. energy, water, insurance, etc) (88%), Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items (67%) and Essential infrastructure vulnerability (e.g. water, electricity, gas, sanitation) (45%). 53% feel climate change will reduce their quality of life somewhat, and a further 18% feel it will reduce their quality of life a lot.

How are you currently, or how do you expect to, personally feel the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Which of the following best represents how you believe the effects of climate change will affect your quality of life?
Baw Baw (n = 337)
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1268)
Increased household running costs (e.g. energy, water, insurance, etc)
88%
85%
Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items
67%
65%
Essential infrastructure vulnerability (e.g. water, electricity, gas, sanitation)
45%
45%
Challenges getting around (e.g. damage to roads, public transport)
44%
44%
My ability to leave my home due to weather (e.g. extreme heat, cold, rain, storms, wind, etc.)
38%
35%
Reduction in air quality
36%
32%
My ability to access nature due to weather (e.g. erosion of parks, coastal areas, etc.)
32%
35%
Transport infrastructure vulnerability (e.g. roads, rail, public transport services)
31%
29%
Challenges accessing essential services (e.g. emergency and health services)
28%
32%
Loss or damage to your home/property
25%
29%
Reduced personal safety or health to myself and/or those around me
23%
25%
Reduced value to your home/property
15%
17%
Other
3%
3%
None of these
2%
2%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Baw Baw (n = 337)
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1268)
It will improve a lot
0%
1%
It will improve somewhat
5%
6%
It will not change
15%
15%
It will reduce somewhat
53%
51%
It will reduce a lot
18%
19%
Don't know
9%
8%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Concerns & ideas in Baw Baw

What are the top three issues facing your local area?
Baw Baw (n = 337)
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1829)
Inflation/Cost of Living
55%
57%
Healthcare/Hospitals
42%
34%
Law & order
32%
32%
Housing/Price of Housing
28%
30%
Population/Overpopulation
25%
10%
Transport
18%
19%
Petrol Prices/Fuel
17%
17%
The Economy
14%
16%
Household Debt/Personal Debt
14%
14%
Drug/Alcohol Abuse
13%
20%
Unemployment
10%
15%
Poverty/Inequality
9%
11%
Taxation
6%
6%
Education
6%
5%
Environmental Concerns
4%
7%
Immigration
3%
2%
Race Relations/Racism
2%
2%
Issues Facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
2%
2%
Defence
0%
0%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Custom Questions in Baw Baw

How reliable do you find the digital connectivity (e.g. internet, mobile networks) in your local area?
Baw Baw (n = 337)
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1829)
Not reliable at all
16%
17%
Slightly reliable
19%
18%
Moderately reliable
37%
39%
Very reliable
24%
23%
Extremely reliable
4%
4%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

How likely is it that you will remain living in the Gippsland Region in the long-term (e.g. until after retirement)?
Baw Baw (n = 337)
Gippsland 2024 (n = 557)
Very unlikely
4%
6%
Unlikely
11%
13%
Likely
30%
30%
Very likely
50%
41%
Unsure
6%
9%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

How likely do you believe it is that your dependent children will remain living in the Gippsland Region when they become adults?
Baw Baw (n = 337)
Gippsland 2024 (n = 515)
Very unlikely
4%
9%
Unlikely
25%
26%
Likely
41%
37%
Very likely
17%
14%
Unsure
13%
15%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Energy Transition in Baw Baw

What specific benefits, if any, do you associate with Gippsland’s transition from fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) to renewable energy sources (wind, solar, etc.) over the next ten years?
Baw Baw (n = 337)
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1487)
Improved community health
58%
54%
Natural environment benefits
56%
53%
Job creation
49%
51%
Lower energy costs
45%
43%
Existing fossil fuel jobs to move to renewables
41%
40%
Education opportunities and skill development
38%
38%
Improved regional economic prosperity
34%
33%
Improved reliability in energy supply
33%
31%
More consistent energy prices
33%
30%
Attracting business investment in the region
32%
32%
Grant funds for community projects
22%
25%
None of the above
7%
9%
Other
4%
4%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

What concerns, if any, do you have regarding Gippsland’s transition from fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) to renewable energy sources (wind, solar, etc.) over the next ten years?
Baw Baw (n = 337)
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1829)
More expensive power
51%
55%
Job losses
51%
49%
Impacts on wildlife and environment
48%
49%
Loss of usable land
32%
33%
Mine land rehabilitation
30%
30%
Land prices
24%
27%
Recycling of renewable technology
23%
28%
Loss of visual amenity
21%
25%
Transmission lines
17%
20%
None of the above
8%
9%
Other
6%
7%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Which of the following best represents your view regarding whether or to what extent your local area will benefit from the energy transition over the next ten years?
Baw Baw (n = 337)
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1829)
Will not benefit my local area
37%
39%
Will benefit my local area somewhat
44%
42%
Will benefit my local area greatly
19%
19%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Which of the following best represents your view regarding whether or to what extent the broader Gippsland Region will benefit from the energy transition over the next ten years?
Baw Baw (n = 337)
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1829)
Will not benefit Gippsland
29%
32%
Will benefit Gippsland somewhat
47%
44%
Will benefit Gippsland greatly
24%
24%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

To what extent do you disagree or agree that those managing Gippsland’s energy transition are working together and collaborating with the community?
Baw Baw (n = 337)
Gippsland 2024 (n = 1829)
Strongly disagree
21%
24%
Somewhat disagree
24%
21%
Neither disagree nor agree
39%
37%
Somewhat agree
13%
13%
Strongly agree
3%
4%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower