1. Protecting and Strengthening Nature
Looking after our bushland, wildlife and natural places so they recover and thrive through time.
A healthy natural environment is essential for community wellbeing – it influences all aspects of our daily life, outdoor activity, health, agriculture, local economies and more.
Yarra Ranges has some of Victoria’s most significant forests, waterways and biodiversity, supplying over half of Melbourne’s drinking water and providing clean air, natural cooling, and habitats for animals and plants. The beautiful natural environment is also a big reason so many of us choose to call it home.
Science and research tell us our climate is changing, and it’s already impacting Yarra Ranges.Tackling climate change requires a coordinated effort across all tiers of government. By acting locally, we contribute to broader national and global solutions and strengthen the resilience of our own communities.
Our actions over the next 10 years will have a long-lasting impact on future generations.
It’s important we do all we can to care for Country so future generations can continue to thrive.
Help inform the strategy which will guide our efforts to protect and enhance the environment over the next ten years.
Read through the focus areas, give feedback in the five minute survey, share your hopes for Yarra Ranges in 2036. Follow this page to stay updated.
Focus areas
We have drafted the following focus areas to lead us towards a healthy and thriving environment in 2036. These focus areas are based on scientific research, previous community engagement and local environmental data including the State of the Climate and Environment report, which provides a current snapshot of climate and environment information for Yarra Ranges and the Environmental Strategy 2015-2025 Evaluation Report, a comprehensive evaluation of the previous Strategy.
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2. Resilient Communities and Places
Supporting people, homes and places to be safer, sustainable and prepared for storms, fires and heatwaves, and helping the community to participate in a fair, reliable and affordable energy transition as the climate changes.
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3. Using Water Wisely and Caring for Waterways
Caring for our rivers, creeks and wetlands, and making sure we use water wisely for the long term.
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4. Reducing Waste and Environmental Impacts
Reducing waste to landfill, increasing reuse and recycling and limiting our impact on the environment.
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5. Caring for Country
Partnering with Traditional Owners to use cultural knowledge systems to guide how we care for Country.
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6. Multi-Generational Stewardship
Council, community and partners joining forces to care for the environment now and for future generations.
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7. Tracking and Reporting Progress
Using sustainable indicators to measure what we do and reporting it clearly so everyone can see how we’re going and what needs more work.
Yarra Ranges Climate and Environment Impacts and Highlights 2006-2026
We understand that you may have questions around Climate and Environment which we have tried to answer for you here. Please reach out to the team or come and chat to us at a pop up event to discuss further.
Have questions? Come and chat to the team to find out more!
Our team will be at
- Repower Festival, Civic Centre 15 Anderson Street Lilydale - Sunday 22 March
- Minibeasts Festival, Birdsland Reserve Belgrave Heights - Sunday 19 April
- Managing your Rural Property Conference Memo Hall, Maroondah Highway Healesville - Sunday 24 May
- Volunteer Fair, Civic Centre 15 Anderson Street Lilydale - Saturday 30 May
You can also see our staff at various local events, as part of our Community Engagement Roadshow.
Key Stages
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Timeline item 2 - active
Initial engagement (Stage 1)
March - May 2026
- Broad community engagement
- Focus Groups
- Advisory Groups/ Special Interest Groups
- Traditional Owner Group Engagement
- School, children and youth group sessions
- Youth Summit/Engagement (May/ June)
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Timeline item 3 - incomplete
Use feedback from Phase 1 to draft Strategic priorities
June - August 2026
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Timeline item 4 - incomplete
Draft Strategy for community feedback (Stage 2)
September - October 2026
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Timeline item 5 - incomplete
Project engagement summary report shared with community
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Timeline item 6 - incomplete
Community feedback considered and relevant changes made
November 2026
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Timeline item 7 - incomplete
Final Strategy considered by Council
December 2026
Document Library
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Environment Strategy 2015-2025PDF (2.88 MB) -
Environment Strategy 2015-2025 Evaluation ReportPDF (2.69 MB)
A 2025 evaluation of the current strategy to review its achievements and challenges.
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Environment Strategy Evaluation Report SUMMARYPDF (958.11 KB)
Summary report of the Environment Strategy 2015-2025 evaluation.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or want to learn more about this project, our contact details are below:
| Name | Resilient Environment team |
|---|---|
| Phone | 1300 368 333 |
| environment@yarraranges.vic.gov.au | |
| Website | yarraranges.vic.gov.au |
| In writing | Att: Resilient Environment team Re: Climate and Environment Strategy PO Box 105, Lilydale Vic 3140 |
If you need assistance when contacting Council, please use the numbers below.
National Relay Service: 133 677 (for callers who have a hearing, speech or communication impairment and for Text Telephone or modem callers)
1300 555 727 (for callers using Speech to Speech relay)
Translating and Interpreting Service: 131 450
TTY: 9658 9461
