Warrnambool | A City for Living

Warrnambool grows its resilient and diverse economy

Grow economic resilience and diversity so new and existing industries continue to succeed in local, national and global markets

2040 Outcome

  • Achieve Gross Regional Product growth in line with Victoria state average.
  • Warrnambool attracts and trains enough skilled workers to meet the needs of local industry.
  • Regional programs that help supply the skill needs of regional employers are provided and promoted.
  • Achieve a minimum 15 years supply of undeveloped land (commercial, industrial and residential).

The changes we want by 2026

  • Residents (and especially young people) have increased awareness of the critical skills and workforce shortages in the local economy.
  • Warrnambool’s employment continues to grow across industry sectors.
  • Unemployment rate in Warrnambool continues to be one of the lowest of any Regional City in Victoria and below the State average.
  • Economic participation for those groups who have traditionally had low workforce participation rates (people with a disability, ATSI people, etc) has significantly increased.
  • The Warrnambool Aboriginal Employment Strategy will have been developed and implemented.
  • Warrnambool’s Economic Development Strategy 2015-2020 has been implemented, reviewed and updated.

Short Term Initiatives

  • Council and Partners will implement and support:
    Economic Development Strategy 2015-2020.
    Warrnambool Destination Action Plan
    Great South Coast Food and Fibre Action Plan
    Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism Strategic Plan.
  • Work with education providers, industry and government to train and attract workers to deliver the existing and future skills needed to grow our City’s economy
  • implement the Warrnambool China Strategy to advance Warrnambool as a China ready city
  • Deliver a business case for a business incubator/accelerator to support growth for existing companies/start-ups in Warrnambool
  • continue to support and strengthen the Changchun, China and Miura, Japan ‘Sister-City’ Relationships
  • Partners will actively support grassroots, start-up and scale-up businesses that show innovation and entrepreneurial behaviours.
  • Partners will actively seek to employ people of different cultures, ages and abilities.
  • Partners will work together to identify and develop business cases to attract new industries to the City.