The Boroondara Community Plan is structured around seven priority themes, which the community identified as most important in 2017. These themes respond to what the community told us we should focus on over the next 10 years. They provide guidance for how Council can best use its resources to meet community expectations.

Under each priority theme below, you will find the outcomes of the 2017 consultation.

Your 7 priority themes

Our community told us that the following are important:

  • life-long learning facilities, such as libraries, schools and post-school education, neighbourhood houses
  • ensuring maintenance and cleanliness of public areas, roads, and footpaths; and graffiti management
  • sport and fitness facilities, including sports clubs
  • community services, such as maternal and child health services, childcare and kindergarten, health services and services for older adults and vulnerable members of the community
  • personal safety and security
  • respect, diversity, and a strong sense of community
  • community activities and events
  • community spaces and places
  • family friendly neighbourhoods
  • opportunities and places to experience arts
  • health and wellbeing.

When asked why they would prioritise “Your Community, Services and Facilities”, our community reported the following values most frequently:

  • a sense of community or a sense of belonging in the community, including the benefit for health and wellbeing
  • the importance of community services and facilities for people at particular life-stages
  • supporting others in the community (for example, the elderly)
  • children’s wellbeing
  • family
  • health
  • neighbourliness and knowing people in the area
  • harmony.

Our community told us that the following are important:

  • parks, gardens and green spaces
  • public amenities such as seating, toilets, drinking taps, BBQs, playgrounds, areas for dogs, and walking trails.

When asked why they would prioritise “Your Parks and Green Spaces”, our community reported the following values most frequently:

  • being outdoors
  • the importance of accounting for changing patterns in urban development. For example, higher density living relating to an increased need for public open space
  • fostering a sense of community
  • children’s wellbeing
  • relaxation, peacefulness and escape.

Our community told us that the following are important:

  • retaining trees
  • environmentally sustainable practices
  • recycling and rubbish collection
  • biodiversity and native plants and animals.

When asked why they would prioritise “The Environment”, our community reported the following values most frequently:

  • future wellbeing and making sure we’re ready to address coming changes
  • a sense that the environment has implications for everyone and influences health and wellbeing
  • shared responsibility
  • nature
  • local influence, for example, Council and local areas being in a good position to create change.

Our community told us that the following topics are important:

  • preventing development that doesn’t fit well with neighbourhood character
  • restricting the amount of new residential development
  • protecting heritage buildings
  • enabling development that is well-designed and located
  • enabling diverse housing options, including higher density and affordable housing, to be built.

When asked why they would prioritise “Neighbourhood Character and Heritage”, our community reported the following values most frequently:

  • stability of local character
  • a desire for greater local control over development and planning
  • historical significance of architecture
  • residential green space
  • a need for moderation, for example, supporting some development that is limited in extent or location
  • houses that are suitable for the area.

Our community told us the following topics are important:

  • traffic management, road safety and reducing congestion
  • public transport
  • bike paths
  • the availability of car parking in residential areas
  • the availability of car parking near shops
  • walkability.

When asked why they would prioritise “Getting Around Boroondara”, our community reported the following values most frequently:

  • convenience and time
  • safety
  • a reduction in the number of cars on the road
  • quality of life
  • the importance of convenient and accessible transport options for people at different life-stages.

Our community told us that the following are important:

  • having shops nearby
  • supporting local business and local employment
  • local shopping areas that are vibrant
  • having local restaurants and cafes.

When asked why they would prioritise “Your Local Shops and Businesses”, our community reported the following values most frequently:

  • economic “wellbeing” of the local area and the sustainability of businesses
  • the ability to live locally and access goods close to their home
  • a sense of community
  • convenience.

Our community told us that the following are important:

  • increased opportunities for community consultation and involvement in Council decision making
  • judicious and transparent spending of rates money, including spending on essential services
  • Council to make sensible planning and leadership decisions
  • improved process efficiency for residents who are contacting council or requesting permits
  • regular communication on behalf of Council to residents about new projects and work
  • transparent and approachable civic leadership

During the community consultation, Civic Leadership and Governance was included as part of the “Community, Services and Facilities” theme.

However, our community provided feedback that Civic Leadership and Governance is related to all the priority themes and should be considered separately.

This priority theme has been included in the final seven priority themes to reflect the consultation results.