Colac Otway seeks more residents

THE Colac Otway Shire is working with Rural Councils Victoria to develop a program which showcases the shire and demonstrates the opportunities for people who move to the area.

Shire mayor Jason Schram said the RCV project would include a mix of facts, stories and information designed to help overcome some of the barriers that people imagine might prevent them from moving.

“The content will appear on a new campaign site and through Council’s website and social media, as well as through other channels, to build a stronger profile for our shire.

“There are so many positives about living in Colac Otway and this project will allow us to tell people from city areas about all the opportunities on offer.

“We have low unemployment and a wide range of job opportunities from unskilled through to professional roles with some of our largest employers.

“The most recent census data found the median weekly mortgage payment in Colac was $270 a week, compared to the Victorian median of $400 a week.

“So along with the offer of jobs across some great, sustainable industries and services, housing affordability is another important drawcard for individuals and families to move to our shire.

“In addition, we have excellent community, health and education facilities which are of a similar standard experienced by those living in metropolitan areas.

“The campaign will profile people who have moved into the area over the past two years and highlight the great lifestyle our shire provides its residents,” he said.

“The project will promote all the fantastic events and unique recreational places from the Otways to
our beaches, lakes, rivers and volcanic plains.”

The shire is also looking forward to the completion of two other RCV projects which will benefit the council’s work in economic development and planning for the ageing population.

“RCV is developing an Investment Attraction Strategy for its regional councils, along with a new document that looks at the provision of services for ageing populations, which is an issue for all regional councils,” Cr Schram said.