Filming and photography in Yarra Ranges

You must register at least 10 business days before your proposed filming date.

The earlier you apply, the better, especially for complex projects involving road closures or traffic management.

All registrations must include:

• public liability insurance Certificate of Currency ($20 million coverage); students can submit their institution's insurance certificate
• site map(s) showing filming locations, parking, road closures and any structures or equipment
• additional permits (if required) from other agencies.

You must submit a film registration if your project impacts Council land in any way, including:

• filming on parks, roads, footpaths or reserves
• needing vehicle access to a Council reserve
• closing roads or car parks, or changing traffic conditions
• using Council land for structures, a unit base or crew parking

You must always obtain permission from the landowner.

Depending on what you're filming and the location, you may need to provide additional permits or approvals from other government agencies.

• Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA): Council does not provide approval for drone usage. For drone use, you may need licensing, registration or accreditation through the Civil Aviation Authority (CASA). If the filming involves the use of drones, CASA/license approval is required and should be included with your application. Visit the CASA website for up-to-date information.
• Victoria Police: You should notify Victoria Police if your filming may cause public concern (for example, using mock weapons, special effects or violence, or any traffic impacts).
• Parks Victoria: You typically need a to apply for a permit to film in state or national parks.
• VicRoads: For filming on or impacting a road managed by VicRoads or the Department of Transport (DTP).
• Melbourne Water: You need to apply to access Melbourne Water land.
• Public Transport Victoria (PTV): You'll need to tell PTV if your filming impacts public transport.
• WorkSafe: Review WorkSafe advice if your filming includes high-risk materials like fireworks or special effects.

• Private land: We are unable to supply any contact details for privately owned land. You must provide landowner approval for filming impacting Council land.

Council will issue an invoice with a Letter of Approval. The invoice is payable within 30 days.

Council may grant fee waivers for:

• student and no impact projects
• Yarra Ranges Council grant recipients.

You must make a fee waiver request in writing at the time of application.

Contact us as soon as possible.

Changes may require re-approval and could incur additional fees if stakeholders need to be re-notified. Additional daily fees may apply.

You can nominate 1 backup filming date at the time of application. Cancellations for any other reason are subject to our Terms & Conditions.

In the event of extreme weather conditions, Council may revoke filming approval if we deem it unsafe to proceed. We will make this decision in consultation with relevant emergency services agencies, where required. If this occurs, Council will contact the project’s nominated contact person as soon as possible to advise of the change and discuss next steps.

Structures must be approved in advance and they must:

• be freestanding (no stakes or attachments to Council assets)
• be set up in the approved location
• avoid damaging trees, turf or infrastructure
• comply with engineering and safety standards.

You must leave the film site clean and undamaged. If Council needs to clean up, we may invoice you for the costs.

All personnel working with or caring for children in association with the activity must have a valid Working with Children Check and comply with Yarra Ranges Council’s Child Safe Standards.

Ensure you have read:

• Yarra Ranges Council's Child Safe Factsheet(PDF, 5MB)
• Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy page
• Young people's safety page

All projects fully or partly filmed in the Yarra Ranges must include an acknowledgement of Yarra Ranges Shire Council in the credits.

We strongly encourage producers to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people, the Traditional Custodians of the land in this region. Further information about the Aboriginal culture and history of the Yarra Ranges is available on our website.

It is a condition of Council’s agreement, that you/your organisation, as the applicant, conduct an inspection of the venue or open space in which the activity will be staged to ensure that the area is fit for the specific nature and purpose of the activity being staged. Should you identify any hazards that may affect the safe conduct of the activity, you are required to advise Council of the exact location and nature of said hazards. Council reserves the right to rescind its approval should the areas not be considered to be of a suitable standard for the specific nature and purpose of the activity being staged.

As the applicant, you are liable for and must indemnify Council, our agents and sub-contractors, against all loss, damage, claim, expense and injury arising, directly or indirectly, out of your (or your staff or sub-contractor’s or agent’s) acts or omissions or the staging of this activity.

The applicant staging the activity must have public liability insurance covering the approved activity(ies), with cover of at least $20 million.

The applicant agrees that at the conclusion of the activity all materials, rubbish and other equipment associated with the activity will be removed and the area left clean and tidy. If the clearing of rubbish from the area is not carried out to the satisfaction of the Manager Infrastructure Services, this will be undertaken by Council’s service provider and the applicant will be invoiced for this work.

Council is not prepared to accept liability for any loss, damage, expense or injury sustained or incurred by any person or body arising from or in any way connected with the filming activity.

Council is committed to the responsible use of data and protecting your privacy when interacting with Council. The Privacy & Data Protection Act 2014 and the Health Records Act 2001 outline our obligations in relation to how we collect, store, use and access the information we hold about you. Download the Operational Privacy & Health InformationPolicy 2023(DOCX, 314KB) or view the policy online.

All information collected is held securely and used solely by Council for a specific and/or directly related purpose. Council may disclose the information collected to other organisations if required or as permitted by legislation.