Phase 2: Plan consultation

Results released for draft Plan consultation

From 13 August to 7 October we asked for community feedback on the Yellingbo Conservation Area Draft 10 Year Plan (the Plan).

From reviewing the survey responses and submissions we found seven themes consistently raised by the community. These themes will be a key input into any future changes the made to the Plan. We will consider all practical and actionable suggestions made during this process.

While we will consider all feedback made by the community, any changes made to the Plan will need to be consistent with the VEAC recommendations and existing legislation on uses within parks and reserves in Victoria.

Read the full summary of submissions here:

YCA story

Yellingbo Conservation Area Governance

In response to recommendations made by an independent review of the Yellingbo Conservation Area Coordinating Committee (YCACC) in late 2018, the Victorian Government implemented new governance arrangements for the YCA.

The independent review recommended that consideration be given to replacing YCACC with a coordinating committee of land managers focussed on coordinating land management works in the YCA; and the creation of a community reference group.

In April 2019, the Yarra4Life Coordination Committee agreed to assume the role of coordinating committee of land managers for the YCA. Yarra4Life is a collaborative environmental program that aims to improve the quality of land, water and natural habitat in the Yarra Valley and to help protect and enhance the survival of native species in the region. The Yarra4Life project area has significant overlap with the geographic area of the YCA. The Yarra4Life Project is coordinated by the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority (PPWCMA) on behalf of its project partners. The Coordination Committee meets on a quarterly basis.

In December 2019, 11 members were appointed to form the new Yellingbo Conservation Area Community Reference Group (YCACRG). The CRG has been established to assist DELWP and Parks Victoria with effective community engagement during the establishment of the Yellingbo Conservation Area. Members of the CRG were appointed on the basis of their high level skills and experience in areas including conservation, agriculture and horticulture, recreation, tourism, Aboriginal cultural values and fire risk management and control. The YCACRG will hold quarterly meetings, beginning in February 2020.

Read the FAQ on the new governance arrangements:

Background

The draft Plan is the culmination of extensive research, community consultation and community-based feedback. Navigate the page tabs above to read more about how the draft plan for the Yellingbo Conservation Area has been developed.

The document library to the right of this page includes useful information, including the Yellingbo Conservation Area Bushfire Risk Management Plan and Frequently Asked Questions, developed in response to community feedback.

The Yellingbo Conservation Area Co-ordinating Committee website also provides more information about the project’s origins, and the research and community consultation that has occurred in support of the project to-date. Visit: ycacc.com.au

Survey

The Yellingbo Conservation Area Draft 10 Year Plan was open for comment via the survey below from 13 August to 7 October 2018.

The survey is now closed and the results from the consultation period can be accessed here.

SURVEY NOW CLOSED

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How did you find out about this survey? Required

Questions relating to the Draft Plan

Land Status and Zoning

1. How supportive are you of the proposed zones as described in Chapter 1 of the draft Plan?
2. Do you agree that they will allow for the protection of the environment while still allowing some appropriate uses?

Healthy conservation landscape

A list of values and threats were finalised using information gained during the initial community consultation in 2017 and are shown in Chapter 2.

3a) To what extent do you agree that the values and threats are an accurate summary for the Yellingbo Conservation Area overall?

We have developed goals for native vegetation, endangered vegetation communities, threatened species and waterway health and these are explained in Chapter 2.

Fire management

The initial round of community consultations in 2017 identified that bushfire risk was an significant concern within the community. In response, we have developed the Yellingbo Conservation Area Bushfire Risk Management Plan, to ensure there is no material increase in bushfire risk, as a result of establishing the Conservation Area.

5a) Do you understand the key concepts within the Plan?

Recreation and Use

The table summary of recreational activities by zone, was finalised using information gained during the initial community consultation in 2017 and is outlined in Chapter 4 of the draft Plan.

6. To what extent do you think the recreation activities proposed in the three zones are appropriate?

Farming and License considerations

Sections 2.6, 4.8 and Appendix C of the draft Plan outlines opportunities for a Riparian Management license.

7a) After reviewing this information, how well do you understand the use of riparian management licenses on Crown land water frontages?
7b) Do you understand how to access funding support for stream frontage management as outlined in section 2.6?

Cultural Heritage

8a) Have we captured all of the cultural heritage values of the Conservation Area?
8c) Do you agree the goals addressing cultural heritage will protect our heritage?

Co-ordinated management

The draft Plan commits to maintaining the community's important role in the future of the Conservation Area, strengthening how the community and partner agencies work together.

9a) Do you understand the strategies for co-ordinated management?

Precincts and site-specific management strategies

Precinct 1 Yarra River Woori Yallock to Healesville

Is there anything missing from Precinct 1?
Are the Precinct 1 zones right?

Precinct 2 Yarra River Millgrove to Woori Yallock

Is there anything missing from Precinct 2?
Are the Precinct 2 zones right?

Precinct 3 Hoddles Creek, including Hoddles Education Area, Beenak Bushland Reserve and Wet Lead Creek

Is there anything missing from Precinct 3?
Are the Preceinct 3 zones right?

Precinct 4 Existing Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve, Woori Yallock Creek, Sheepstation Creek, McCrae Creek, Cockatoo Creek

Is there anything missing from Precinct 4?
Are the Precinct 4 zones right?

Precinct 5 Wright Forest Bushland Reserve and Cockatoo Creek in Cockatoo township

Is there anything missing from Precinct 5?
Are the Precinct 5 zones right?

Precinct 6 Sassafras Creek, Perrins Creek, Emerald Creek and Menzies Creek

Are the Precinct 6 zones right?
Is there anything missing from Precinct 6?

The survey form is now closed. Thanks for your contributions.

Privacy

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is committed to protecting personal information provided by you in accordance with the principles of the Victorian privacy laws.

The information you provide will be used to help inform the Yellingbo Conservation Area Plan, and to keep you updated on the project if you choose to provide contact details.

The information you provide will be made available to DELWP to help inform the future of the Yellingbo Conservation Area. Personal details (name/contact details) will not be made public.

You may access the information you have provided to DELWP and Parks Victoria by contacting Justin Foster at justin.foster@delwp.vic.gov.au.

Phase 1: Initial consultation

Conservation Area Plan: initial consultation

Over the last 12 months, DELWP and the YCACC have been working closely with the community to develop a better understanding about the values within the Conservation Area, what opportunities there are for the future and what the existing threats and issues are.

The plans, which are available to download or view in the slides below, indicate what we have heard from you so far. The comments and ideas we have heard from the community have been divided into the following 4 key themes; Conservation, Recreation and Tourism, Industry and adjacent land use, Threats and Issues. The reason for the themes is to ensure that the new Conservation Area is being created in the context of the broader landscape rather than in isolation. It is also important that the new Conservation Area be used as an opportunity to respond to the existing threats and issues in the landscape in partnership with our neighbours.

We're now asking the community to help us further by filling out the survey below and telling us how you use the Conservation Area and what you think we should be focussing on for the next 10 years.

Responses will be used to create the draft Yellingbo Conservation Area Plan.

Through the process since 2014, this new conservation area has been widely referred to as the Yellingbo Conservation Area but it is important to note that it extends much further than the existing Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve and the township of Yellingbo. There will be a renaming process as part of the second round of consultation.

Haining Farm and the Yellingbo Conservation Area

The agencies that make decisions about public land in the Yellingbo area are working with the public to make decisions on the area's transformation.

The Yellingbo Conservation Area Plan is being prepared to implement the Victorian Government Response to the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council’s Yellingbo Investigation Final Report (March 2014).

The Plan will provide the overall direction about how the Conservation Area will be used and managed in the future. There are many different opportunities for the use and purpose of the Conservation Area and we're asking for your help to identify any additional opportunities.

The Plan will also be used to guide the use and development of the Yellingbo Conservation Area over the next 10 years.

Results: Survey on Yellingbo Conservation Area

Everyone with an interest in the Yellingbo Conservation Area was invited to participate in the below survey, outlining how they use the Yellingbo Conservation Area, and how they would like to see it used in the future. Responses are being carefully considered in developing the draft Yellingbo Conservation Area Plan, which will be released in July.

The results have now been released - thank you to everyone who took part in this survey.

You have 255 characters left.
Would you like to be included on the Yellingbo Conservation Area Coordinating Committee’s mailing list to be kept informed of progress?
Q1: Which of these statements describes your connection to the Conservation Area? (Tick all that apply): Required
Q2: What are the 3 most important things that establishment of the Conservation Area should do? (Tick 3 only) Required
Q3: What are the 3 biggest issues that establishment of the Conservation Area should focus on? (Tick 3 only) Required

The survey form is now closed. Thanks for your contributions.

Privacy

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is committed to protecting personal information provided by you in accordance with the principles of the Victorian privacy laws.

The information you provide will be used to help inform the draft Yellingbo Conservation Area Plan, and to keep you updated on the project if you choose to provide contact details.

The information you provide will be made available to the DELWP/Parks Victoria Yellingbo Conservation Area Project Team to help inform the future of the Yellingbo Conservation Area. Personal details (name/contact details) will not be made public.

You may access the information you have provided to DELWP and Parks Victoria by contacting Victoria Purdue at victoria.purdue@parks.vic.gov.au

Haining Farm

Victorian Government Response and Final Concept Plan

After several months of work and significant community engagement led by the Haining Farm Working Group, the final concept plan for Haining farm has been released.

Thank you to the Haining Farm Working Group for their efforts and time in investigating the options and providing their recommendations, and the broader community for sharing their feedback and helping shape the future use of the site.

Visit the Haining Farm Engage Victoria page to read more about the Haining Farm engagement process, outcomes, implementation, and community updates.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE.