Policies & strategies

Yarra Ranges has many public parks and open spaces, including areas where dogs can be exercised off-leash. These off-leash areas give people and their dogs a chance to be active, meet others, and practice responsible dog ownership. However, non-dog owners and dog owners alike have told us that they experience issues in dog off-leash areas.

The People and Dogs in Parks Plan was adopted by Council in July 2026, and will guide where dog off-leash areas should go and what they should include. It will be used by Council when making decisions about new or existing off-leash areas on land we own or manage. 

 

Find out how we address the wellbeing of animals, manage compliance and education initiatives, provide community and council partnerships to tackle challenges with animals, and more.

This Master Plan provides a strategic framework for the future provision of infrastructure and supporting amenities to facilitate participation for both existing and new users of the park.

 

Learn more about the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination project by downloading the documents below or visiting the Ride Yarra Ranges website.

The Health & Wellbeing Strategy is informed and guided by the Health & Wellbeing Advisory Committee (community members) and Health & Wellbeing Steering Committee (service partners and key stakeholders).

The Health & Wellbeing Advisory Committee meets bi-monthly.

The Health & Wellbeing Steering Committee meets quarterly. 

Outlines our strategic direction, details key priorities and the actions we will carry out over a four year period. It states how the activities will be resourced and our performance measured.

The Active Recreation Plan is a plan to encourage people in the Yarra Ranges to be more active.

Currently, only 40% of Yarra Ranges residents are meeting the Australian physical activity guidelines of at least 30 minutes per day on at least 5 days a week.

We have heard that 89% of residents are interested in being, or would be, more active if the type of activity that suited their needs and interests was available and accessible.

This plan focuses on you and the factors influencing your participation in active recreation. It suggests a combination of actions to help us reach our target of increasing the physical activity of Yarra Ranges residents by 15% over ten years.