In the last 12 months, one of our biggest priorities has been to help our community get through the pandemic and recover from the June 2021 storms. We’ve set aside:

• $3 million in a Community Recovery Fund, to provide for new and ongoing initiatives, such as the four Community-led Recovery Committees.
• $2 million has been set aside for 2023-24, in recognition of the ongoing recovery work ahead of us.

The Draft Budget 2022-23 allocates $86.4m towards Council’s service delivery, including:

• $6.3m for early years development and early childhood education and care
• $4.6m for positive ageing services
• $497,000 for supporting people with disabilities
• $2.0m to support youth mental health, participation and engagement
• $7.0m for maintenance and renewal of community buildings
• $2.0m for maintaining aquatics facilities
• $2.2m for biodiversity conservation
• $2.3m for animal management and improving community safety

Our Capital Expenditure Program outlines the funding set aside to deliver new projects such as the Yarra Valley Trail and RidgeWalk. At the same time, the majority of the funding allocated is to deliver on the fundamental needs of our community such as road renewal works, ensuring our footpaths, bike paths, drains and bridges are well-maintained, and that our parks, open spaces and recreational facilities continue to be widely utilised by our community. The following highlights include significant funding for renewals and upgrades of existing assets.

• $32.9m for roads renewals and upgrades
• $1.6m for drainage
• $2.4m for footpaths and cycleways
• $3.8m for recreational, leisure and community facilities
• $11.3m for parks, open space and streetscapes
• $18.6m for communty buildings

For further information, read the documents below.

Below are the Major Initiatives that Council will deliver over the next four years. This year an additional initiative has been added, focusing on supporting local economic recovery. Further details about these initiatives and more can be found in the Draft Council Action Plan 2022-2025.

• Improve Aboriginal health and wellbeing
• Become a world-class trails and ecotourism destination
• Prepare and implement a Biodiversity Plan
• Reduce our ecological footprint
• Improve mental health outcomes for the community
• Deliver integrated place planning
• Build community resilience and greater emergency preparedness
• Implement a 'build back better' approach to economic recovery

Draft Council Action Plan
Word version | PDF version

Draft Budget
Word version | PDF version

Draft Capital Expenditure
PDF version

Nobody knows their community like you.

Last year Yarra Ranges Council used the input from the community to develop the Council Plan and Budget. These documents outline the key activities that will be undertaken by Council and how these activities will be funded. We have revised the Council Action Plan and developed a new four year Budget to ensure the key projects and initiatives reflect community needs and help guide community recovery from COVID-19 and the June 2021 storm.

Key highlights include:

From Wednesday 11 May, Council welcomes your views on these proposed documents that will be available on Council’s website at

www.shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/draftbudget-202... or at all of Council’s Community Links.

Submissions will be considered at a public Hearing of Submissions meeting to be held on the evening of Wednesday, 15 June 2022 both virtually and at the Civic Centre, 15 Anderson Street, Lilydale.