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If you’ve driven through Warragul or Drouin recently, you’ve probably noticed the signs of change. Road crews resurfacing key routes, construction fencing around major projects, and new housing estates steadily spreading across what used to be paddocks. West Gippsland is growing — quickly — and the region’s infrastructure is now scrambling to keep pace.
The numbers tell the story. Planning forecasts suggest Warragul’s population could rise from around 25,872 residents today to roughly 39,096 by 2046, while nearby Drouin is expected to grow from about 17,677 residents to more than 29,107 in the same period. In practical terms, that means tens of thousands of new homes and thousands of additional families moving into the region over the next two decades.
For many locals, that growth brings opportunity — new businesses, more services and stronger local economies. But it also brings inevitable growing pains, particularly when infrastructure has to catch up with the pace of development.
Growth, opportunity — and some concerns
The scale of development has sparked discussion across the community about how the region should evolve.
Planning consultations in Baw Baw Shire have highlighted a tension familiar to many fast-growing regional towns: how to welcome new residents while still protecting the character that made people move there in the first place.
A review of Warragul and Drouin’s growth areas notes that some residents are concerned suburban-style development could threaten the identity of the region. The council’s Precinct Structure Plans Review warns that some developments risk “compromising the unique rural character and natural environment of Baw Baw.”
It’s a balancing act that many regional communities across Victoria are now navigating — growth is coming whether towns are ready or not, and the real challenge is managing it well.
The infrastructure response
That reality is driving a wave of much-needed infrastructure investment across Baw Baw Shire.
Among the largest projects currently underway is the $32 million redevelopment of the Warragul Leisure Centre, which will deliver a new indoor pool, a warm-water therapy pool, expanded gym facilities and upgraded community spaces. For a growing town, facilities like these are not just upgrades — they are essential pieces of community infrastructure.
In central Warragul, plans are also progressing for the Baw Baw Culture and Connection Precinct, an ambitious project designed to transform part of the town centre into a new civic and cultural hub.
“As a Council we need to think big, and we need to facilitate these sorts of projects to make sure we are meeting the needs of our rapidly growing community now and for generations to come,” Cr Danny Goss said when the project was announced.
Road infrastructure is also being strengthened as new neighbourhoods expand across the region.
A recent example is the $4.9 million upgrade of Copelands Road in Warragul, which included road reconstruction, drainage improvements, bridge works and new shared walking and cycling paths. According to Baw Baw Shire Council, the upgrade was designed to improve safety and traffic flow in an area experiencing increasing residential development.
It’s the kind of project that might not grab headlines — but for locals using the road every day, it can make a real difference.
Growth rippling through the local economy
The building boom is also creating momentum across the broader construction sector.
New estates, community facilities and commercial developments rely on a wide network of trades to bring projects to life — from builders and electricians through to painters, concreting professionals, and the many specialists who help turn construction sites into finished homes, workplaces and community spaces.
As the region expands, many of these trades are seeing steady demand driven by the growing population.
A region entering a new chapter
What’s happening across Warragul, Drouin and surrounding towns is part of a much bigger story unfolding across Victoria’s regional growth corridors.
Places that were once quiet rural centres are now becoming attractive alternatives for people seeking lifestyle and housing opportunities outside Melbourne. And with that migration comes the inevitable need for better roads, stronger infrastructure and new community facilities.
For residents, the cranes on the skyline and the construction sites across town are visible reminders that West Gippsland is changing.
Whether those changes feel exciting, unsettling or a bit of both probably depends on who