Help us shape our Council Plan

Council is urging community members to share their thoughts, time and expertise to help develop the 2025-2029 Council Plan. 

On Tuesday, 26 March, Councillors endorsed the commencement of community engagement, to inform the development of the next four-year plan, which will set Council’s agenda for the organisation.  

Between March and May, Council staff will hold pop-ups across the region at events and popular locations, to gather a wide range of perspectives from locals and visitors. 

The 10 year Asset and Finance Plans will also be developed by this engagement. 

Yarra Ranges Mayor, Sophie Todorov, said the pop-ups are part of the first phase of engagement and would complement online and in-person community engagement over the year. 

“The Council Plan outlines the high-level priorities for a four-year period – with the goal of moving the region forward to meet the community’s vision that was defined by the community in 2020,” Cr Todorov said. 

“These documents are some of the most important ones we produce, and so we start working on it a year in advance. 

“Phase 1 of our engagement will start shortly, with public pop-ups, hard-copy and digital surveys, community summits and conversations with Council’s advisory committees – all with the goal of getting as much information as possible from community members of all backgrounds, beliefs, abilities and ages. 

“From mid-year, we’ll establish a representative community panel, who will develop recommendations for Council on municipal-wide issues, and we’ll be going back to the community to test those recommendations and make sure we’re on the right track. 

“Next year, once the new Council is elected, the 2025-29 Council Plan and the 10 Year Asset and Finance Plans will start to take shape, and we’ll be encouraging community to get involved then, too. 

“Simply put, we want to hear from as many people in the Yarra Ranges as possible. Our website, shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au, will be the place where all our information will be put from March onwards so come and become part of the conversation.” 

By the end of October, in the year following a Council election, every Council is required to develop a four-year strategy to work towards the community’s vision.  

This document is supported by a 10-year Asset and Financial Plan.  

To ensure the final documents reflects the breadth of community want, detailed engagement is undertaken ahead of the Council elections.