The Healesville and valley communities are being encouraged to share their thoughts and vision about how the town should look and be experienced in 20 years.
The ideas and insights will be turned into a draft Township Design Framework (TDF) later this year to provide a community supported framework for any future projects and action.
Community members can now visit Shaping Yarra Ranges and take part in activities to help imagine what Healesville could look like by 2045.
Ryrie Ward councillor Fiona McAllister explained that the community’s ideas and suggestions would be used to draft a design framework. This document will then be shared with the community for review and feedback before being finalised.
“To get this framework right, it is so important to hear from a wide range of people on what they love about Healesville, any aspects that could be improved, and what their hopes are for the future of our town. The key purpose of a document like this, created with the community, it to make sure that Council can plan and find funding for the projects that matter most; the projects that will ensure we continue to have great places for us to enjoy and come together and to support local businesses to thrive,” Cr McAllister said.
“This can be as simple as wanting seating, better path connections for walking and cycling or improved ramp access, or as large as new community buildings and infrastructure, public spaces and parks.
“We’ve had some great input in the past, such as with the Healesville Structure Plan, and these ideas will be included along with many other community conversations that have happened about many public spaces in Healesville. This Design Framework will get into a bit more detail to progress actual projects – a comprehensive plan that looks at the local strengths, issues and opportunities and maps out improvements across a range of timeframes.
“Healesville is a special town that we all love and making sure it is the place we want and need it to be into the future is so important. I encourage everyone to be part of this conversation so please have a look at Shaping Yarra Ranges which can be accessed from Council’s website, visit one of our in-person pop-up events over the coming weeks, at the Healesville Link or send an email with your thoughts.”
Find out about community pop up events and more at Shaping Yarra Ranges, shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/healesville-township-design-framework
Once the TDF has been developed with community input, and adopted by Yarra Ranges Council, it will inform decision making and strengthen funding requests, including to other levels of government.
The TDF will be developed with consideration of the Healesville Structure Plan (2016) and the Council Plan, and will take into account other projects and relevant strategies such as Green Street Park design and the Queens Park Masterplan.
Find out more and have your say at shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au
