Equitable access to housing, revitalised high streets and improved and expanded open space are features of the Yarra City Council Plan 2025-29, which was last night adopted by Council.
Speaking at the meeting, Mayor of Yarra City Council, Stephen Jolly, said the Plan was informed through extensive community consultation, including more than 1,800 community responses to the draft Plan, engagement with 36 community-based stakeholder groups and Advisory Committees, as well as speaking with more than 140 children and young people.
“This is a Plan that reflects our community,” he said.
“It has listened to them, it understands what is important to them, and it invests in those things that they love about our city.”
Mayor Jolly added that the overwhelming message from the Yarra community is that they love the city and wanted to protect the things that make it unique.
What is clear is that the next four years are going to pose challenges, particularly balancing the needs of a growing population – our City is going to need to build 44,000 more homes by 2050, which represents about 80,000 new residents
Mayor Jolly said that to successfully meet that challenge, a Council Plan must focus on practical action.
Our community wants to see us doing those things we need to for Yarra to be a safe, welcoming and inclusive. They want to see us supporting our businesses and revitalising our high streets. All while continuing to provide the services and support our community needs at all ages and stages of life.
The Council Plan outlines how Council will deliver for the City during this term, including supporting equitable access to a range of housing options and making our streets cleaner, greener and safer for everyone to enjoy.
Addressing climate change remains at the heart of the Plan, which includes helping people travel and commute more easily via all modes of transport, providing more parks and green spaces to relax in and help cool the City, as well as offering more convenient access to EV charging options.
“Not only do we have to deliver all this for significantly more people, but we also have to do it in a way that is financial sustainable,” said Mayor Jolly.
The Council Plan includes actions to deliver on this vision with a focused investment in new and renewed assets and community-valued services.
Yarra's long-term planning principles are focused on creating a sustainable financial environment to enable Council to continue to provide the community with high quality services and infrastructure into the medium and long term.
The plan's strategic objectives
To achieve all of this, the Yarra City Council’s Plan 2025-29 focusses on four strategic objectives:
Living in the City
We are a City for everyone. We are welcoming, friendly and connected, where everyone is safe and supported.
Building the City
We have the infrastructure we need to accommodate a growing community
Working and Playing in the City
We have a thriving economy with a variety of opportunities to work, create, play and celebrate.
Running the City
We are transparent and accountable, making evidence-based decisions to ensure the sustainability and health of Yarra.