The purpose of the Heritage and Planning Advisory Committee is to utilise the knowledge, experience, expertise and skills of people who live or work and have an interest in Yarra in a two-way dialogue between our community and Council that provides:

• Mutual sharing of information, ideas and perspectives about issues affecting heritage and planning across the municipality (eg trends in development and heritage, future community needs, etc);
• Information on key heritage and planning projects and initiatives being undertaken either by Council and or State agencies;
• Input and advice into Statutory and Strategic Planning continuous improvement initiatives, including the delivery of a high standard of customer service, within the constraints of the Planning & Environment Act 1987;
• Input and advice into Strategic Planning work during periods of consultation and engagement;
• Input and advice into Council’s capital works projects on heritage matters;
• Input and advice on any planning reforms proposed by the State; and
• Input and advice on strategic heritage matters.

The Committee is an advisory committee of Council. The Committee has a purely strategic focus.

The Committee should focus on issues and opportunities that are relevant across the entire municipality.

The Committee has no delegated decision-making power from Council.

• 2 Councillors (appointed annually)
• 10 community members

Appointed Councillors (2024/25)

The following Councillors have been appointed to the Heritage Advisory Committee for 2025:

• Cr Kenneth Gomez
• Cr Andrew Davies

Applicants will be requested to submit a short statement of capabilities addressing the following criteria:

• Demonstrated expertise and/ or qualifications in heritage and/ or planning or a related field;
• If representing a local or a community group Approval of their respective local community group to be their representative;
• An understanding of community needs, concerns and issues relating to planning and heritage in the City of Yarra;
• An understanding of the role that Local Government has in planning and heritage matters;
• Ideas on how the improvement of planning services could be undertaken having regard to the constraints of the Planning & Environment Act 1987;
• An ability and commitment to consider and value a wide cross section of community and business views;
• An ability and commitment to consider the needs of current and future residents; and
• A commitment to participate in four meetings per year.

As far as practicable, the composition of community members will reflect the diversity of the community in accordance with the Council Committees Policy [ PDF, 246.73 KB] .

Committee's terms of reference [ PDF, 191.86 KB]