By Dongyun Kwon
As Yarra Ranges Council (YRC) is approaching its final year for delivery of the 2021-25 Council Plan, councillors endorsed the updated plan for the 2024-25 period, Council Action Plan 2024-25.
Minor revisions to the wording of three major initiatives and four actions were proposed for the 2024-25 period.
Yarra Ranges mayor Sophie Todorov said the action plan is well underway towards completion which is aligned to current community needs and allocated within the 2024-25 budget.
“Our community engagement has already commenced to develop the next 2025-29 Council Plan and I fully support endorsing this updated Yarra Ranges Council Action Plan for the 2024-25 period,” she said.
The Council Action Plan 2024-25 contains the activities that YRC will complete to deliver on the Council Plan 2021-25 set up to achieve five goals; Connected and healthy community, Quality infrastructure and liveable place, Protected and enhanced natural environment, Vibrant economy, agriculture and tourism, and High performing organisation.
Across the major initiatives in the Council Action Plan, a range of social and other health outcomes and environmental impacts will be achieved.
The council will improve Aboriginal health and wellbeing by providing a range of support to Oonah Health and Community Services Aboriginal Corporation to establish the Healesville Belonging Place, an integrated Aboriginal health facility.
It will also ensure the plants, animals and ecologies of Yarra Ranges, which the community values so much, are supported and retained alongside the community in healthy landscapes by implementing the Nature Plan along with reducing the shire’s ecological footprint through its commitment to shift to sourcing 100 per cent renewable energy and help the communities to thrive in a changing climate through adaptive, resilient and regenerative programs and projects.
Lyster Ward councillor Johanna Skelton said she was amazed to see the implementation of the plans that YRC had listed down four years ago when she first came onto the council.
“It is very satisfying to be here and see the last year of that term and all of those points of feedback that the community put into that plan and those 120 plus services are still a focus of the organisation,” she said.
“It’s great to see the progression on it and I hope any community members who read it feel the same way.”
