At Tuesday night’s Council Meeting, Council:

• adopted Yarra’s Climate Emergency Plan 2024-2030
• endorsed Yarra’s draft Play Space Strategy for public exhibition and community consultation.
• endorsed the final concept design for the Gertrude and Brunswick Street Public Space Project for submission to the Minister for Housing and Multicultural Affairs.
• deferred the item Keeping Yarra Flood Resilient until February 2025 to include information about stormwater asset capacity; publish high-resolution flood mapping; organise information sessions; and noted the $4 million investment in drainage renewal.
• strongly opposed the Victorian Government’s planned demolition of 44 public housing towers, including 12 in Yarra; advocated for renovation and refurbishment over demolition; called for an increase in public housing; and requested further information from the Victorian Government.
• supported programs increasing canopy cover on Council-controlled land and will continue to advocate for Victorian Government action on cooling and greening.

Council heard the following reports:     

• Governance Report - July 2024
• Delegates reports: 
  - Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) National General Assembly 
  - Heritage Advisory Committee
  - ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) World Congress

Notices of Motion: 

• Housing targets: 
  Council moved a Motion calling for officers to prepare a submission in response to the Victorian Government’s Plan for Victoria, including the Draft Housing Targets. Council also called for more detail from the Department of Transport and Planning about the basis, assumptions, and methodology underpinning the draft housing targets.
• Swimmable Cities Charter: 
  Council supported signing the Swimmable Cities Charter, noting its alignment with the Climate Emergency Plan; and resolved to make the Charter available on the Yarra website post-embargo.
• Supporting local businesses:
  Council noted the value of small businesses and requested a report on streamlining and simplifying processes for local businesses; and to explore opportunities for promoting local businesses and live music.
• Release of Council documents:
  Council resolved to make the "Building Financial Sustainability & Capacity Final Report" publicly available with redactions for confidential information.

Petitions and letters:

• A petition containing 36 signatures from residents are requesting that Council consider replacing the seat at the No.17 Tram Stop on Brunswick Street, Fitzroy was accepted, noted and referred to the Chief Executive Officer for consideration and response.

Other agenda items and more details about the above items can be viewed in the Council Meeting minutes, available online from Friday 12 July.