Council is working with the community in Yarra Junction to develop a Place Plan. The Place Plan will influence future local developments and projects for change.

So far, this has involved:

  • Identifying issues and opportunities
  • Understanding what is valued by the community
  • Developing a community vision, establishing priorities and creating an action plan for the future of Yarra Junction

The feedback from this project phase will be used to develop a Yarra Junction Place Plan. Find this and more in Engagement & Direction Paper below.

Who we heard from

How did people hear about the project?

  • Letters

    A letter was mailed out to over 1000 households in the Yarra Junction area to inform the community of the project and ways to provide feedback.

  • Emails

    1,895 people registered with interest in Yarra Junction received an email notification regarding the Shaping Page.

  • Social media and e-newsletter

    Social media posts about the project reached close to 15,000 people.

    It was also included in three separate editions of Council's fortnightly e-newsletter, that has a readership of around 11,000 people.


  • Signage and posters

    Flyers were put up in the shops and signage was displayed around town, promoting the project.

  • Community events

    Council officers attended the Halloween Street Party, Teddy Bears Picnic and Over 50's Friendship Group lunch

How did people get involved?

Between September and December 2023, people provided feedback in the following ways.

What you told us

Themes from the feedback

Here are the highlights from the Engagement & Direction Paper. Find the full paper in the Document Library.

  • Culture, community & service needs

    • Concern about the lack of emergency healthcare and police presence.
    • Bushfire preparedness is important.
    • More activities and spaces to support and engage young people.
    • Concerns about anti-social behaviour, mental health concerns and substance abuse.
    • Want more community activities and events and community groups working together.
    • Want local support services and programs available to support families, people living with a disability and their carers.
    • Concern for isolated elderly community members.

  • Economic prosperity and wellbeing

    • Improvements in the look of the activity centre and revitalisation of street & shop frontages.
    • More and better-quality parking options.
    • Opportunities to increase employment.
    • An increase in quality local hospitality and entertainment.
    • More competition in centre for local shopping options.
    • Opportunities to develop local industry, including tourist attracting infrastructure and activities.
    • Some do not want to see an increase in tourism and want the town to remain a local service centre.

  • Transport, movement and public space

    • Maintenance of roads needs to be improved.
    • Concern about the speed of some vehicles and growing amount of traffic on the Warburton Highway and through the centre of town.
    • Safety concerns regarding pedestrian movement around the town. Focus on increasing paths and pedestrian crossings.
    • Opportunities to improve the trails network in the wider area.
    • Parking improvements and more options around town, to move cars away from parking on the side of the Highway.
    • More regular public transport options

  • Future oriented land use and development

    • Controlled development that does not exceed infrastructure upgrades and maintains the neighbourhood character.
    • Review current zoning to allow for controlled growth in housing and industry.
    • Concerns about reliability of power and communications in the area.
    • Unhappy with the drainage system, believe flooding is increasing due to developments in the area.
    • Concern about the affordability and diversity of housing.
    • Environmentally sustainable energies and developments are important.

  • Community infrastructure

    • Potential to upgrade and improve community facilities and infrastructure.
    • Community loves the Yarra Centre and recreation reserve and welcomes further investment in this area.
    • More emphasis on accessible and environmentally sustainable design.
    • Enhance and upgrade the streetscape and public spaces, to increase safety, amenity, and liveability.
    • Upgrade and regularly maintain the drainage network.
    • Ensure public infrastructure is upgraded to support growth expected through housing developments.

What do you love, or not, about Yarra Junction?

The comments below were left by community members during the first phase of engagement. They were included in the data along with the other ways people could provide their thoughts.

4 November, 2023

CatherineWarner says:

A bike/pedestrian path from Lowes Road to Wesburn for both comfort and safety. I have a detailed document outlining problems & concerns.

3 November, 2023

Erin says:

Fenced designated off-lead dog area, ideally with creek access, would be a game changer and increase trail safety by giving a space for dogs

3 November, 2023

Erin says:

The YJ playground is brilliant but it is no longer securely fenced in AND the magpies mean it cannot safely be used in spring

3 November, 2023

Erin says:

The community feel; cafes & op shops, community hub, schools and preschools, access to the trail, Yarra centre, library etc

3 November, 2023

Kaitlyn says:

Any chances of relocating the magpie at the playground that has been swooping and injuring adults and children every spring for 3+ years.

3 November, 2023

Kaitlyn says:

Would be great to see an upgrade to the playground including more bench seats and drink stations. Especially with so many kids in the area

3 November, 2023

Deni says:

Improve pedestrian access in the main street. Idea: Remove parking on the North side of the street and add pedestrian refuge down the centre

3 November, 2023

Deni says:

Wby hwy/ hoddle st/ Yarra centre intersection is very dangerous for both cars and pedestrians. Perhaps a roundabout with pedestrian refuge?

3 November, 2023

Deni says:

Wby Hwy/ Link rd intersection. V dangerous to enter the hwy from Link Rd due to limited visibility, due to (often illegally) parked cars

31 October, 2023

IRW says:

A pedestrian crossing across Warburton Hwy (with lights like the Warburton pedestrian Crossing) eg from the "Bottle Shop" to the Cenotaph.

31 October, 2023

IRW says:

Good wheelchair access eg from the library to the Yarra Centre.

31 October, 2023

IRW says:

A wheelchair accessible walking track along the Little Yarra River with access possible into the river - eg perhaps at the "beach".

4 November, 2023

CatherineWarner says:

A bike/pedestrian path from Lowes Road to Wesburn for both comfort and safety. I have a detailed document outlining problems & concerns.

3 November, 2023

Erin says:

Fenced designated off-lead dog area, ideally with creek access, would be a game changer and increase trail safety by giving a space for dogs

3 November, 2023

Erin says:

The YJ playground is brilliant but it is no longer securely fenced in AND the magpies mean it cannot safely be used in spring

3 November, 2023

Erin says:

The community feel; cafes & op shops, community hub, schools and preschools, access to the trail, Yarra centre, library etc

3 November, 2023

Kaitlyn says:

Any chances of relocating the magpie at the playground that has been swooping and injuring adults and children every spring for 3+ years.

3 November, 2023

Kaitlyn says:

Would be great to see an upgrade to the playground including more bench seats and drink stations. Especially with so many kids in the area

3 November, 2023

Deni says:

Improve pedestrian access in the main street. Idea: Remove parking on the North side of the street and add pedestrian refuge down the centre

3 November, 2023

Deni says:

Wby hwy/ hoddle st/ Yarra centre intersection is very dangerous for both cars and pedestrians. Perhaps a roundabout with pedestrian refuge?

3 November, 2023

Deni says:

Wby Hwy/ Link rd intersection. V dangerous to enter the hwy from Link Rd due to limited visibility, due to (often illegally) parked cars

31 October, 2023

IRW says:

A pedestrian crossing across Warburton Hwy (with lights like the Warburton pedestrian Crossing) eg from the "Bottle Shop" to the Cenotaph.

31 October, 2023

IRW says:

Good wheelchair access eg from the library to the Yarra Centre.

31 October, 2023

IRW says:

A wheelchair accessible walking track along the Little Yarra River with access possible into the river - eg perhaps at the "beach".