Invest in Colac Otway

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A smart investment

Colac Otway is a richly diverse shire in south-west Victoria offering exciting opportunities to prospective investors and established local businesses looking to expand.

Our municipality enjoys a booming food and fibre production sector that's well on its way to ranking amongst the top in the country. Reliable rainfall is another reason why the agricultural sector is increasingly looking to the south-west corner of Victoria for new opportunities.

The Great Ocean Road, which traverses the Colac Otway Shire, supports a thriving tourist industry and attracts about seven million visitors per year, which eclipses tourism visitation in both Tasmania and the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Otway National Park also has a growing reputation for adventure tourism.

With affordable land and ready access to services, Colac is the ideal place to start a commercial or industrial venture. Meanwhile, our shire’s small towns such as Birregurra, Beeac, Forrest and Apollo Bay are thriving centres for boutique and bespoke businesses such as microbreweries, restaurants, provedores and gift shops. 

Agenda for growth

Jobs growth, business expansion and new commercial investment are among the core focuses of Colac Otway Shire Council.

Colac Otway takes a strategic approach to economic development based on a solid understanding of the strengths and gaps in our shire’s marketplace, together with providing land uses and a planning scheme that support growth.

Our shire is one of the few local government areas in Australia that has a growing manufacturing employment base, spearheaded by national brand Bulla Dairy Foods, along with the Australian Lamb Company and AKD Softwoods. 

Let us help you

Our Economic Development team welcomes the opportunity to help you expand your current business, or establish a new business in the Colac Otway Shire. They can direct you to government funding programs, help you access essential data for your business plans, and advise you on planning processes and the local real estate market.

Contact our Economic Development Unit on (03) 5232 9400.

Colac Otway Shire Investment Attraction Policy(PDF, 101KB)

Colac Otway Shire Statistical Information

Regional Development Victoria currently administers a number of programs designed to:

  • support business and industry development  
  • help new businesses to establish themselves
  • assist existing industries to grow and diversify  
  • build prosperous, stronger regional communities
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