FERNTREE GULLY STAR MAIL
Home » Opinion » Considering the future of the Yarra Ranges

Considering the future of the Yarra Ranges

On Tuesday 26 March at the Yarra Ranges Council meeting, we will consider the commencement of community engagement for our Council Plan – one of the largest and most significant documents we have.

The Council Plan is a four-year document, which sets out our high-level goals as an organisation. Everything we do comes from, or funnels up to, these goals.

These goals help us move the region to where the community tells us they want to be, so it’s important that we take the time to hear from community and really get them right.

If endorsed by Council, staff will be hosting pop-up booths across the municipality in coming months, at events and popular locations, to gather perspectives from a wide range of visitors and locals.

We’ll have hard-copy and digital surveys, community summits and conversations with Council’s advisory committees, aiming to get as much information as possible from community members of all backgrounds, beliefs, abilities and ages.

As part of the engagement, we’re proposing to establish a representative community panel, who will develop recommendations to Council on issues affecting the entire region – those recommendations will go back to the community and make sure they’re on the right track.

Next year, the 2025-29 Council Plan will start to take shape; we’ll have opportunities for the community to get involved then, too.

So this is a call to any community members interested in sharing their thoughts, their time or their expertise – sign up at shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au, get involved in the engagement and keep your eyes peeled for more ways to get involved.

Digital Editions


  • Fresh mural points the way

    Fresh mural points the way

    A little community gardening group tucked away in Belgrave has received a beautiful new mural in late 2025, pointing the way to the peaceful space…

More News

  • Kids are back at it!

    Kids are back at it!

    It’s back to school for kids across the Yarra Ranges, with some entering formal education for the first time. The tail end of January saw families, teachers and education staff…

  • Outer East youths charged after aggravated burglary

    Outer East youths charged after aggravated burglary

    Police have arrested four people following an aggravated burglary in Wantirna South this morning, 31 January. It’s alleged four offenders entered a Wallace Street property around 4am. The residents, a…

  • Moving for a cause: Pilates instructor honours late father with Pilates 4 Parkinson’s fundraiser

    Moving for a cause: Pilates instructor honours late father with Pilates 4 Parkinson’s fundraiser

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 530906 As a pilates instructor, Vicky Kamakaris knows the importance of movement but she’s also seen firsthand the impact of what losing mobility does…

  • Vale Joy Aldham

    Vale Joy Aldham

    The Selby CFA community is mourning the loss of a beloved member, Joy Aldham, who passed away in January, just a week before her 75th birthday. Ms Aldham who was…

  • Lifeblood of the force give back

    Lifeblood of the force give back

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 531438 It was a morning of giving back for several highway patrol members from the outer east, choosing to donate blood and plasma as…

  • Paramedics respond to at least 20 kids locked in hot cars over heatwave

    Paramedics respond to at least 20 kids locked in hot cars over heatwave

    Ambulance Victoria (AV) responded to a concerning number of kids locked in cars after a weekend of hot weather hit the state. Paramedics responded to 11 cases of children locked…

  • Hills Happenings

    Hills Happenings

    It has been a challenging start to the year for Victoria. Severe weather has driven destructive bushfires and flooding, causing widespread damage and impacting thousands of people and businesses. Whilst…

  • A sequel even better than the first

    A sequel even better than the first

    28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Starring Alfie Williams, Ralph Fiennes and Jack O’Connell MA15+ 4.5/5 Directed by Nia DaCosta, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is an even better…

  • Man charged following Ferntree Gully fatal crash

    Man charged following Ferntree Gully fatal crash

    Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives have charged a man following a fatal crash in Ferntree Gully last week. It is understood a car crashed into a pole on Oaklands Avenue…

  • Emerald recognised as haven of the arts

    Emerald recognised as haven of the arts

    Emerald is a haven for the arts, and that passion has been given well-deserved recognition at Cardinia’s Australia Day awards. The Emerald Arts Society won Community Event of the Year…