The Stawell Structure Plan sets out a long-term vision for the township and provides a roadmap to guide the future planning of the area over the next 20 to 30 years. The plan establishes a framework and outlines key directions and opportunities for change to foster the future growth and development of the township.
Stawell has significant tourism strengths. Regional tourism projects such as the Peaks Trail in the Grampians, which is being promoted as one of Victoria’s four iconic long distance footpaths, will bring more visitors to the area. The iconic Stawell Gift is at the heart of Stawell’s identity that brings thousands of visitors to the town each year. The Underground The Dark Matter lab will be another unique and iconic marker that will be assisted by an information centre in the town centre.
The expansion of visitor services, accommodation, cultural events, and things that celebrate the many unique qualities of Stawell and its local produce will be a priority for harnessing the opportunities presented by Stawell’s tourism advantages.
A number of key strategies and strategic sites have been identified to help support this such as establishing a gateway feature and information hub at the intersection of Seaby Street and the Western Highway, that seeks to draw visitors into the town, and upgrading Federation Park as a key stopover point for visitors.
An entrance at Federation Park would increase exposure and accessibility for the 11km disused trail linking Stawell to a stone quarry at Heatherlie at the base of the Grampians, with potential for a future link to Halls Gap.
The Stawell Action Plan project also aligns with the Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan 2021-31 which outlines that with a well planned local tourism strategy, a high quality visitor experience can significantly benefit the local economy.
The Council Plan 2021-25 action to Deliver a Stawell Tourism Action Plan covers off this work.