Feedback on the Strategy
Feedback on the Strategy was overwhelmingly positive, with 76% of respondents supporting the Strategy's overall direction
Thank you to everyone who helped develop the Biodiversity Strategy
Council will be asked to adopt the final proposed Biodiversity Strategy at their meeting this Monday 1 September. To view the meeting agenda and papers and to request to speak about the Strategy, go to Council's website.
Community engagement
Stage 2 engagement
From 1 April to 19 May 2025, 72 people provided feedback on the draft Biodiversity Strategy, its vision, goals, objectives and proposed actions. As well as what you told us through the survey, people also came to talk with us in-person at community pop-up sessions, an Environmental Friends Group Focus Session, and a Biodiversity Working Group workshop.
Take a look below at some of the other things we heard, or do a deeper dive by reading the Stage 2 Feedback Summary Report.
What we heard
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The vision
76% of respondents endorsed the draft vision
Proposed changes
Proposed changes to the Strategy in response to community feedback include:
| Language | Removed jargon and made language more accessible. Provided clearer explanations for concepts such as ‘Flagship Species’. |
| Line of sight to other Council strategy | Strengthened connection to Council’s Municipal Public Health & Wellbeing Plan with clear links to Banyule Plan priorities. Strengthened links to climate action and adaptation. |
| First Nations partnership | Embedded the commitment on page 11 to invite Wurundjeri-Woi Wurrung to input actions as they go through the journey of self-determination. Any additional First Nations actions identified in the future would be presented to Council as a proposed addendum to the Strategy. This supports the partnership approach the Strategy has taken and Council’s commitment to supporting self-determination outlined in the Marrageil Strategy. |
| Goals and objectives | Updated Goal 6 on page 50 to commitment to ‘no local species loss’ across the landscape rather than just no ‘significant’ species loss. Amended several objectives to make them ‘smarter’ objectives. This included stronger measures of success. |
| Actions | Included an ‘action snapshot’ under each theme in Part 2 so key actions are introduced earlier in the document. |
| Partnerships | Added an action supporting a Darebin Creek Management Committee partnership in delivering biodiversity education. |
What next?
The final Biodiversity Strategy incorporates community feedback and outlines a coordinated approach to Council’s biodiversity response. While existing services are important, they alone won’t reverse local environmental decline. Extra investment is needed to strengthen Council’s biodiversity efforts and meet community expectations. The Strategy includes an overview of current and future resourcing needs required for future budget processes and grant funding opportunities.
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Background
Biodiversity supports all life.
It helps to provide clean air, water and soil, support food production and enhance our health and wellbeing. The Banyule community values the natural environment, which is a reason why many people have chosen to live here.
To protect and enhance local biodiversity, we need a strong strategic direction. Banyule's draft Biodiversity Strategy outlines a 10-year plan for working with the community and industry partners to manage and protect our natural environment.
With threats of climate change and human activity, this strategy is essential for our future.
Stage 1 engagement
Stage 1
Community engagement and research
From July to October 2023, we asked the community to help shape the way Council and community manage and interact with biodiversity in Banyule.
We received 331 contributions through an online survey and in-person activities with our Community and Environmental Friends of Groups, internal and external stakeholders and the Community Biodiversity Working Group.
As a result of your feedback, Council decided to move to a long term vision for biodiversity management and shift from a short term plan to a long term strategy, with an action plan to be updated and reviewed more regularly.
What we heard
During consultation, the community told us we should:
- partner with and support environmental community groups to manage biodiversity threats
- provide biodiversity education to increase community literacy
- deliver biodiversity engagement programs
- develop an effective biodiversity monitoring program and provide transparent reporting on biodiversity trends
- improve resourcing of Council biodiversity sectors to provide meaningful engagement programs and biodiversity support to our community.
Internal and external stakeholder told us we should:
- effectively manage threats to biodiversity on public land and advocate for better biodiversity management in the private sector
- increase biodiversity literacy and value internally
- appropriately resource biodiversity across Council so that Council can be a more effective biodiversity manager
- develop toolkits for teams to support better biodiversity outcomes outside of traditional biodiversity spaces
- monitor biodiversity to inform current and future management.
View the full consultation report.
During 2023, we also engaged an Environmental Consultant to review Banyule’s current biodiversity management practices and programs. They benchmarked Banyule's practices against other industry practitioners and made recommendations on industry best practices for Council to consider in the new Biodiversity Plan.
View the full Biodiversity Benchmarking Report report (due to document file size, Appendix 1 is available on request).
The key recommendations from the report include:
Biodiversity Community Working Group
In January and February 2023, we asked community to become part of a Biodiversity Community Working Group. Eight community members were selected to be part of the CWG and help shape Council's response to biodiversity management.
Community members involved in the Biodiversity Working Group have an interest in biodiversity and hold two of the following:
- Professional experience working in the environment industry
- Membership of a community environment group
- Experience working or volunteering with community groups, environment organisations or government
- Experience as an environment advocate or leader
- Experience in planning and/or community development and/or policy development
- Experience in environmental education
Engagement stages
Stage 1: January – December 2023
Internal stakeholder and community engagement
We asked internal stakeholders what they want to see for biodiversity management in Banyule.
The Biodiversity Community Working Group were involved at this stage to help draft community-facing actions.
We also ran a survey and a number of community workshops from July to September 2023.
Stage 2: July – December 2023
Research and benchmarking
We reviewed our current Biodiverstiy Plan and had a detailed Biodiversity Bench-marking Report developed by an Environmental Consultant. The report details a review of Banyule’s current biodiversity management practices and programs. It also made recommendations on best practice biodiversity management and programs for Council to consider when developing the Biodiversity Strategy.
Stage 3: January – July 2024
Development and review
We have developed a draft Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. It has been reviewed internally by the teams assigned to each action and will be made available to the community for public comment from 1 April 2025.
