Warrnambool 2040 (W2040) is the community's long-term vision for the future.
W2040 was developed through an extensive community-led process in 2017-2018.
The Plan captures the community's aspirations for the future of Warrnambool via four visions and nineteen goals which cover Warrnambool’s Environment, Economy, Place and People.
The development of W2040 anticipated the requirement under the new Local Government Act (2020) for each municipality to have a community vision that was to have a scope of at least a decade; that described the community's aspirations and which had to be developed through a deliberative engagement process.
Thousands of residents and hundreds of clubs, groups, schools, businesses and community organisations shared their ‘Wishes for Warrnambool’ and their aspirations for the future of the City. The plan is owned by the community and the W2040 Network partners, with support for collaboration and project communication by Warrnambool City Council.
Following local government elections Council is required to either develop a new community plan or review an existing plan.
Council reviewed W2040 in mid-2025 and adopted the revised plan in October 2025. The revised plan can be downloaded below. A change made to the plan included adding work on gender equality under the goal of Warrnambool being a "welcoming and inclusive city". Other changes included the removal of short-term goals which had been achieved including the redevelopment of Reid Oval and the building of a new Warrnambool Library.