Project background and draft Community Infrastructure Plan
The draft Community Infrastructure Plan sets the strategic framework to guide Council's existing and future community infrastructure planning to respond to the needs of the community.
We will prioritise spaces which benefit more people, more often. Community priorities identified during the community engagement process for the Council Plan 2025-29 have been used to inform the draft Community Infrastructure Plan, including our approach and objectives.
The draft Community Infrastructure Plan objectives are:
- Community infrastructure is used to facilitate connection, community wellbeing and cohesion. It enables community participation and access to critical services. It can be a ‘third space’ for the community outside of work/study or home.
- We will continually engage with community to understand their needs and expectations.
- We will prioritise those most vulnerable. We will invest in community infrastructure and services for children and young people, and older people.
- We recognise opportunities to strengthen the Arts, through creative, cultural, social, educational and economic drivers.
- We recognise opportunities for a future focus around digital and technology within community infrastructure.
- We will work towards ensuring community infrastructure is well-utilised now and protected for the benefit of future generations. Community infrastructure will need to be multi-use, and flexible and adaptable to respond to changing community need and growth.
- We will prioritise community infrastructure that is the most used, such as libraries and public toilets, and aspire to the provision of a community hub within each of Yarra’s neighbourhoods.
- We will consider alternative service models to increase utilisation of our existing assets.
- We will identify opportunities where community infrastructure can support broader community initiatives. Examples may include increasing open space or canopy cover, providing space for repair hubs as part of Council’s circular economy objectives.
- Where we have community infrastructure assets that are of heritage significance, we will protect and maintain the heritage qualities whilst developing or using the asset for community needs.
- We will monitor trends about emerging community needs, as well as engaging with the community around needs.
- We will monitor the performance of community infrastructure to ensure it is well-utilised and fit for purpose.
- We will make informed decisions, underpinned by sound evidence and need.
- Community infrastructure in Yarra is highly valued and used by residents, workers, and visitors such as tourists, residents in neighbouring municipalities, and others who come to Yarra or come through Yarra for a variety of reasons. However, funding of infrastructure predominantly falls to our residents.
- We will explore partnerships with businesses, social enterprise, and not-for-profit organisations to share resources. We will be open to sourcing alternative revenue streams to reduce the burden to ratepayers. We will review the Yarra Development Contributions Plan 2017, with a view to seek the highest value contribution towards community infrastructure that will be driven by new development.
- The Yarra community deserves valuable and impactful community services and infrastructure.
- We will demonstrate excellence to achieve planning and design expectations regarding environmental sustainability and climate resilience, waste reduction, and access, inclusion and cultural safety.
- We will lead with fiscally responsible and sustainable decision-making.
- Governance and operations of community infrastructure will be thoughtful and planned, to ensure quality and equitable service outcomes.
- We will seek and respond to opportunities that influence the demand and availability for community services and infrastructure in Yarra. Examples include responding to reform such as the Best Start Best Life kindergarten reform, Plan for Victoria and Victorian Government housing targets, the Victorian Government’s redevelopment of public housing towers, and private market opportunities.
- We will critically assess the best role that Council can play to ensure the needs of our growing and changing community will be met.
- We will be ready to advocate, particularly at critical times, such as the upcoming Federal and State Government elections.
Read the draft Community Infrastructure Plan
The draft Community Infrastructure Plan will be available for feedback from Friday 11 July to 9am on Monday 11 August 2025.
Neighbourhood profiles
Neighbourhood profiles
Neighbourhood profiles provide a place-based approach to understanding the needs for community services and infrastructure over time.
The key considerations were developed based on feedback received as part of the Council Plan 2025-29 community engagement process.
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Have your say
Speak to us in person
Saturday 19 July from 1.30pm to 3.30pm
Bargoonga Nganjin, North Fitzroy Library
182-186 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North
Monday 4 August from 3pm to 5pm
BANH Twilight Market
Opposite 9 Belgium Avenue, Richmond
Project timeline
Timeline
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Timeline item 1 - complete
Stage 1 - Broad Community Engagement
Monday 28 October to Monday 16 December 2024
Seeking community feedback on your priorities and needs as part of the Council Plan 2025-29 community engagement process.
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Timeline item 2 - complete
Stage 2 - Deliberative engagement
January and February 2025
Community working group coming together over 4 workshops as part of our deliberative engagement process, as part of the Council Plan 2025-29 community engagement process.
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Timeline item 3 - active
Stage 3 - Exhibition of draft documents
Friday 11 July to 9am Monday 11 August 2025
Opportunity to provide feedback on the following draft documents before they are adopted:
- draft Community Infrastructure Plan
- draft 10-Year Asset Plan
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Timeline item 4 - incomplete
Council Meeting and adoption of Community Infrastructure Plan
Tuesday 14 October 2025
Council will consider all feedback received through these consultations and the revised Community Infrastructure Plan will be presented to be considered for adoption by Council.
