The Yarra Ranges Council delivered its vision for Yarra Junction’s future at the 13 May council meeting with the Yarra Junction Place Plan.
The plan, which was approved unanimously at the meeting, identified the long term goals for the township and will guide future projects by the council.
Yarra Ranges Council mayor Jim Child said the outcome of the community engagement process for the Yarra Junction Place Plan was wonderful and it reflected how the plan would operate in the future.
“So when you actually read the work and also the engagement piece that was done, it shows what a real collaborative innovation and continuous improvement process that this was.”
“But broadly it really shows what this is going to be going into the future, and supported by this place plan, and ultimately, a township design framework as well,” Cr Child said.
The Yarra Junction Place Plan doesn’t outline any specific projects that would take place but rather acts as a guide for when the council undertakes works in the future.
It also doesn’t mean any funding has been allocated, and opportunities to deliver projects for Yarra Junction may arise at different stages depending on the resources available.
Five priority areas for Yarra Junction were identified in the plan: culture and character, transport and accessibility, community infrastructure, partnerships and business and employment opportunities.
After a month of community consultation from August to September last year, the feedback was adopted and added to the report.
The council engaged the community through interviews, surveys, workshops, pop-up stalls and social media which saw over 400 people participate in consultation directly.
Cr Child said the town was a very important centre for the Yarra Ranges which highlighted the plan’s importance in guiding Yarra Junction’s future.
Cr Peter Mcilwain said the plan was extremely well implemented as it had a wide scope of information on the township.
“The scope of information that’s been brought into the plan gives us not just the plan for Yarra Junction, but it also gives us a great snapshot of the community and the community’s needs in that location,” Cr Mcilwain said.
“It is a primary strategic location within the valley, and I think it highlights the impact that council can have on communities, particularly in great social outcomes, but as well as that, the economic benefits that will come to the communities in that area.”
