Strategies & Plans

Animal & Compliance Strategies & Plans

• Domestic Animal Management Plan(PDF, 17MB)
• Colac-Otway-Shire-Council-Cat-Confinement-Order-No.1-(effective from 1 November 2023).pdf(PDF, 121KB)

Annual Plans

• 2024-25 Annual Plan(PDF, 211KB)
• 2023-24 Annual Plan(PDF, 294KB)

Council Plan & Community Vision

• Colac Otway Shire Community Vision 2050(PDF, 234KB)
• Council Plan 2021-2025 (endorsed 27 October 2021)(PDF, 2MB)
• Colac Otway Shire Annual Plan 2023-24(PDF, 294KB)

Community Infrastructure Plans

• Barwon Downs Township Master Plan(PDF, 2MB)  -
• Beeac Township Master Plan(PDF, 2MB)  
• Beech Forest Township Master Plan(PDF, 877KB)  
• Birregurra & Forrest Township Community Infrastructure Plans(PDF, 2MB)  
• Carlisle River Township Master Plan(PDF, 1MB)
• Cressy Township Master Plan(PDF, 5MB)  
• Gellibrand Township Master Plan(PDF, 2MB)  
• Lavers Hill Township Master Plan(PDF, 5MB)  
• Red Rock Region Community Infrastructure Plan(PDF, 1MB)  
• Skenes Creek Master Plan(PDF, 704KB)  
• Swan Marsh Township Master Plan(PDF, 662KB)

Economic Development Strategies & Plans

The Economic Development Strategy 2019-2024 provides a strategic framework for how Council can best support economic development, foster greater investment and grow jobs within Colac Otway Shire.

The Economic Development Strategy 2019-2024 was endorsed at the ordinary council meeting held on the 27th March 2019. The Economic Development Strategy outlines plans and strategies to help develop the Colac Otway Shire's existing industries and businesses. The strategy also highlights key projects to be pursued to change the region's economy, for a sustainable future

• Colac Otway Economic Development Strategy 2019-2024(PDF, 11MB)

• Key and Essential Worker Housing Supply Action Plan 2020(PDF, 5MB)
• Creative Colac Otway Arts and Culture Strategy 2018 -2022(PDF, 3MB)

Emergency Management & Fire Strategies & Plans

• COS-MEMP-Public-Version-September-2024.pdf(PDF, 5MB)
• Strategic Fire Management Plan Otway District 2021-2024(PDF, 5MB)
• Colac Otway Shire Neighbourhood Safer Places Plan V12.0-2023.pdf(PDF, 7MB)
• Municipal Emergency Relief and Recovery Plan(PDF, 895KB) 

Environmental Strategies & Plans

• Colac Otway Shire Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2023 - 2033(PDF, 43MB)
• Colac Otway Shire Climate Change Action Plan(PDF, 6MB)
• Colac Otway Shire Environment Strategy Review(PDF, 55MB)
• Lake Colac Foreshore Master Plan
• Roadside Weed and Pest Animal Control Plan(PDF, 6MB)  

Forrest Mountain Bike (MTB) Revitalisation Project

The Forrest Mountain Bike (MTB) Revitalisation Project (Stage One) was funded by $250,000 from Colac Otway Shire Council and $2.07 million from the Victorian State Government through the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DECCA) and Regional Development Victoria (RDV). Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) and Colac Otway Shire Council delivered and opened the project on the 6^th of September 2023.

Stage Two, (detailed in the Forrest MTB Trails Detailed Design Plan) is yet to be funded.

• Forrest MTB Strategic Plan-Thompson & Berrill-Feb 2015(PDF, 9MB)
• Forrest MTB-Economic Cost Benefit Analysis-Macroplan Dimasi-Sept 2018(PDF, 1MB)
• Forrest MTB Trails-Detailed Design Plan-Feb 2020(PDF, 45MB)

Health & Wellbeing Plans

• Access Equity & Inclusion Plan 2015-2025(PDF, 321KB)
• Colac Otway Shire Health and Wellbeing Plan 2017-2021(PDF, 3MB)
• Colac Otway Shire Heatwave Plan 2010(PDF, 357KB)
• Colac Otway Shire 50 Plus Plan 2015-2025(PDF, 627KB)
• Positive Ageing Ambassadors Toolkit(PDF, 2MB)
• Early Years Plan 2015 - 2017(PDF, 2MB)
• Gender Equity Action Plan(PDF, 8MB)

Infrastructure Strategic and Public Documents

• Apollo-Bay-Drainage-Strategy-2016.pdf(PDF, 798KB)
• Birregurra Flood Study Final Detailed Report - Engeny Water Management(PDF, 105MB)
• Birregurra Flood Study Final Summary Report - Engeny Water Management(PDF, 21MB)
• Electric Line Clearance Management Plan 2025-26 (March 2025)(PDF, 2MB)
• Road-Management-Plan-August-2021.pdf(PDF, 2MB)
• Draft-Road-Management-Plan-2025-2029.pdf(PDF, 1MB)
• Colac-Stormwater-Development-Strategy_Engeny_Final(PDF, 31MB)
• Final-Colac-CBD-Entrances-Project-Report-May-2012.pdf(PDF, 87MB)
• Colac Otway Shire Tourism Parking and Traffic Strategy (PDF, 19MB)
• Waste Management Strategy 2021 - 2030(PDF, 11MB)
• Domestic Wastewater Management Plan - Operational Document(PDF, 4MB)
• Domestic Wastewater Management Plan - Technical Document(PDF, 29MB)
• Asset-Plan(PDF, 8MB)

Planning

• Development Plans, Frameworks and Strategies

Public Toilet Strategy

• Public Toilet Strategy August 2022(PDF, 14MB)

Rates and Finance

• Rating Strategy 2022-2025(PDF, 1MB)
• Colac Otway Financial Plan 2021-22 to 2030-31.pdf(PDF, 2MB)
• Budget 2022-23(PDF, 1MB)
• Council Fees and Charges Schedule 2022-23(PDF, 3MB)
• Statutory Fees and Charges Schedule 2022-23(PDF, 3MB)
• 2025-29 Revenue and Rating Plan(PDF, 887KB)

Recreation and Open Space Strategies and Plans

• Colac-Botanic-Gardens-Masterplan-FINAL-August-2024.pdf(PDF, 20MB)
• Colac-Botanic-Gardens-Masterplan-A1-POSTER-FINAL-20240821.pdf(PDF, 4MB)
• Colac City Reserves Planning Project and Reserve Master Plan - Endorsed May 2023(PDF, 23MB)
• Colac-Otway-Public-Open-Space-Final-Report-October-2011.pdf(PDF, 6MB)
• Colac-Otway-Shire-2006-2010-Recreation-Strategy.pdf(PDF, 1MB)
• G21-Physical-Activity-Strategy-2014-2017.pdf(PDF, 10MB)
• Colac-Otway-Shire-Physical-Activity-Strategy-2014-2017-Final.pdf(PDF, 6MB)
• G21 Regional Football Soccer Strategy 2023-2033 - Final(PDF, 7MB)
• G21-State-of-Play-Report-2014-Tennis-in-the-G21-Region.pdf(PDF, 1MB)
• G21-State-of-Play-2014-AFL-and-Netball-Summary-Report-June-2014.pdf(PDF, 1MB)
• Colac Otway Shire - Active Transport Strategy 2013-2023 - Part 1(PDF, 17MB)
• Colac Otway Shire - Active Transport Strategy 2013-2023 - Part 2(PDF, 12MB)
• G21 and Cricket Victoria Barwon Regional Cricket Strategy(PDF, 3MB)
• G21 Regional Hockey Strategy 2019(PDF, 3MB)
• G21 and AFL Barwon Towards 2030 Strategy(PDF, 9MB)
• Barwon Tennis Strategy 2024-2034(PDF, 10MB)

• Colac Memorial Square Masterplan(PDF, 40MB)

Social Housing Strategy

•  Social Housing Strategy(PDF, 1MB) 

Tourism (Visitor Economy) Strategies

Experience Victoria 2033 is the state's strategic plan to shape the future of Victoria’s visitor economy over the next 10 years. The plan will strengthen Victoria’s enviable tourism offering by leveraging the state’s competitive advantages. The plan has 5 product priorities:

First Peoples-led experiences, Wellness, Arts and Culture, Food and drink & Nature

Experience Victoria 2033 can be viewed here 

The following strategies are for the Great Ocean Road Region and Colac Otways Destinations:

• Visitor Economy Master Plan for the Great Ocean Road Region 2021-2030
• Destination Action Plan Apollo Bay 2018-2020(PDF, 3MB)
• Destination Action Plan - Colac 2020-2025(PDF, 7MB)
• Destination Action Plan - Otway Coast Hamlets 2017 - 202(PDF, 4MB)
• Destination Action Plan – The Otways 2015-2017(PDF, 5MB)

Previous state led strategies:

• Victoria’s Regional Tourism Strategy 2013-2016
• Victoria's Trails Strategy 2014-2024

Waste Management

• Resource Recovery and Waste Management Strategy 2021-2030(PDF, 11MB)
• Waste Collection Operational Guidelines 2021-2030(PDF, 1MB)