Yarra Ranges Council has opened a community feedback for the Draft Health and Wellbeing Strategy over the next few weeks.
Under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, Yarra Ranges Council must prepare a Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan every four years, within 12 months of a general council election.
The council must now prepare a new Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2029.
The strategy prioritises four aspects: increasing community adaptation to climate-related health risks, improving mental well-being, supporting the community to lead healthy lives, and creating safer and more inclusive communities.
It will take a place-based approach, dividing the municipality into four sub-regions: Urban, Hills, Valley, and Upper Yarra.
This approach considers the strengths, opportunities, and priorities of these diverse local communities, as health status varies by suburb and township within the Yarra Ranges.
Cr Gareth Ward moved the motion as per the recommendation on the council document, and Cr Richard Higgins seconded it.
Councillors are looking forward to getting feedback from the community members.
Deputy mayor Richard Higgins said it is another very important document for the council in forward planning and gives the council what direction it needs to go in.
“A lot of work has already gone into it, but I look forward to hearing what the community thinks of it,” Cr Higgins said.
“I encourage members of the community to have a read, read through it, make sure that everything is there that they think should be there or anything that they don’t want there to be removed or discussed.”
Cr Mitch Mazzarella said there are a few promising points in the strategy he’d like to mention.
“I’d particularly like to mention the point here where it says, ‘Collaborate with community members and key partners to foster inclusion and support the Burmese in our Chin community,’ Our Chin community is, of course, one of the larger communities in my ward, and it’s fantastic to see those people get involved,” he said.
“Another point is in relation to scam awareness, which I think is another very important thing. I know of an older gentleman who lost $20,000 to a Bitcoin scammer, so it’s important that we do equip people who may not, who may be vulnerable or less able to be aware or less technologically literate to understand and manage those different scam risks.
“The one little sticking point that I’ve had in here is just in relation to the family violence point, and I’m very happy to see that’s in there, but I’d like to see that we look at preventing violence against all people. So that’s my only little point about that but otherwise fully supportive of what’s in this document. It’s a fantastic document. I look forward to hearing what the community has to say.”
The motion was carried unanimously.
Community members can get involved by providing feedback to the council online via Shaping Yarra Ranges, by visiting in person at one of the council’s Community Engagement Roadshows, or by written submission, by emailing mail@yarraranges.vic.gov.au
The Community Engagement Roadshows are scheduled as follows: on Sunday 13 July from 9am to 2pm at Belgrave, Big Dreams Market (Reynolds Lane), on Wednesday 16 July from 10am to 2pm at Monbulk, Aquatic Centre (Baynes Park Road), on Thursday 17 July from 10am to 2pm at Lilydale, Regional Museum (Castella Street), on Sunday 3 August from 9am to 2pm at Menzies Creek, Winter Market (Menzies Creek Hall), on Tuesday 5 August from 10.30am to 12.30pm at Warburton, ADRA (Redwood Centre).
As well as the draft strategy, residents can also find a summary of the previous round of community engagement, and local health profile data at shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/health-wellbeing-strategy-2025-29
Community members have until Sunday 10 August to have their say.
