Our community at the heart of our vision
For the first time ever, our community has developed a vision to set the aspirations for the future Darebin, and the community we want to be 20 years from now.
More than 1600 community members told us what they wanted to see for the municipality in 2041, and 38 residents and business owners formed a Deliberative Panel to shape that feedback into our Vision and key pillars/themes.
Darebin 2041 Community Vision
- Darebin is an equitable, vibrant and connected community.
- Darebin respects and supports First Nations People, values country, our diverse communities and places.
- Darebin commits to mitigating the climate emergency, creating prosperity for current and future generations.
Our Community Vision is at the heart of our Council Plan, and all the work that flows from there – our priorities, strategic plans, investments, services, partnerships and activities. The vision is supported by three themed pillars – which form the key directions and focus of this Council Plan.
Within the Council Plan are objectives and actions to achieve the Vision our community has set, ranging from the inclusion and strengthening of diversity in our community to actions needed to create a circular economy and prevent waste.
Our 10 Big Actions
- building infrastructure for the future by redeveloping Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre, redeveloping BT Connor Pavilion in Reservoir, and building Darebin Intercultural Centre in Preston
- planning infrastructure for decades to come by commencing scoping for the redevelopment of Reservoir Leisure Centre, activating Edwardes Lake Boat House in Reservoir, building new kindergarten facilities
- continuing to lead with our response to the climate emergency by updating our Climate Emergency Plan to set out how to best achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions for Darebin by 2030, offering solar installations and energy retrofits to pensioners and vulnerable communities, delivering new business and community power purchase partnerships, supporting a shift to a circular economy and massively reducing our waste going to landfill, and delivering projects and programs aimed to improve safety for people cycling, walking and wheeling, increasing active travel which will also reduce transport emissions
- deepening our commitment to truth and justice for First Nations communities in partnership with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples who live and work in Darebin
- supporting vulnerable members of our community by providing support with COVID-19 recovery, expanding our Homelessness Assertive Outreach program, and supporting community-led programs in East Reservoir and East Preston, to achieve greater physical and mental health, and wellbeing for all
- championing local business and creative industries by providing support with COVID-19 recovery, undertaking engagement to inform the future development of an Economic Development Strategy, and improving the lighting and safety of our retail precincts and business activity centres
- building a more inclusive community for all by supporting Darebin’s multicultural communities, reducing racism and discrimination, increasing access to our Council’s services and sporting assets by groups who are under-represented, developing our Disability Action Plan to improve access for all to our services and infrastructure, and developing a Sexuality, Sex and Gender Diversity Action Plan to support the inclusion, rights and wellbeing of our LGBTIQA+ communities, including Rainbow Tick Accreditation for several services
- improving the quality of development and work to protect all that we love about Darebin by pursuing protections for Preston Market, conducting a Planning Scheme review informed by in-depth community consultation, and reviewing to amend our Parking Permit Policy
- protecting our natural environment and biodiversity by significantly improving water quality in Edwardes Lake, increasing tree canopy coverage in our parks, residential areas and retail precincts, and enhancing understorey planting
- expanding our delivery of quality universal services across the lifespan by providing more three-year-old kindergarten places, continuing to deliver our flagship Age Friendly Darebin project, implementing aged care reforms, and registering to become a home care package provider
Download the Council Plan 2021-2025 (Revised)(PDF, 12MB)