Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the draft Resilient and Safe Banyule Framework.

The framework was adopted by Council on Monday 26 February 2024 and is a roadmap for Council to help make our community stronger and safer.

Watch the Council meeting or view the Council report and minutes and refer to Item 4.1 in the minutes.

From 15 September to 29 October 2023 we asked the community what they thought about the scope and relevance of the draft Framework and its focus areas.

59 people provided feedback through an online survey and 16 people through in-person engagement (individual conversations, community workshops, community pop-up sessions, targeted focus group consultations). We also met and received feedback from Banyule's Disability and Inclusion Committee, LGBTIQA+ Committee, Multicultural Committee and Age-Friendly Committee.

View the full consultation report and take a look below at a summary of what we heard below.

* (0 = not important and 10 = most important).

We also heard that:

• Current stressors identified by respondents in Banyule include racism and discrimination, ‘problem gambling’, financial scams (including email, sms and phone scams), a lack of trust in government and the impact of high-density developments in the region.
• The way that Council communicates and disseminates information needs strengthening.
• Safety at home and in public is a concern for women and gender diverse people and is likely to affect community resilience.
• To enhance community resilience, specific actions are needed in each focus area. These actions may involve advocacy, leadership, programs development and delivery, partnerships, and communication and information dissemination strategies.

Community resilience and safety are a shared responsibility.

To do our part better, Council developed the Resilient and Safe Banyule Framework to make sure Council funding and staff have the greatest impact.

We focused on local neighbourhoods, maintaining community assets, being prepared for environmental change, connecting people and building community knowledge.

Based on our research and what we've heard from community during other engagement activities, we think that this work will help to make Banyule safer and more resilient.

A resilient Banyule is one where our communities are inclusive and connected, have access to social and economic opportunities, value and protect the natural environment, and harnesses local strengths to ensure that everyone experiences good health and wellbeing. 

The Resilient and Safe Banyule Framework extends our commitment to the Resilient Melbourne Strategy and reflects local government role under the Community Resilience Framework for Emergency Management.

Drawing from research, data, previous community surveys and a series of engagement sessions with community groups and Council staff, the draft Framework demonstrates how a focus on five key pillars will lead to a better outcomes for all people and create a more liveable Banyule.

In June 2023 we undertook a review of evidence, data and policy to make sure that the Resilient and Safe Banyule Framework is practical and relevant to the people of Banyule.

The Review helped us to gain a full picture of national, state and local policy, and found that the 100 Resilient Cities Framework, the Community Resilience Framework for Emergency Management and the Resilient Melbourne Strategy are solid foundations to guide our approach. It also became clear when we talked with local stakeholders that local government has an important role in strengthening community resilient and safety.

As a result of this research, we identified five Focus Areas that we think will help to strengthen the Banyule community's resilience and safety.

1. Health and wellbeing, including ensuring that people's basic needs can be met and that people can access the health services they need to meet their needs. View the Evidence Summary.
2. Social inclusion and connection, including creating great community facilities that invite people to participate in activities, connect and celebrate diversity. View the Evidence Summary.
3. Strong and dynamic local economy, including supporting local investment, local businesses, volunteering and employment pathways. View the Evidence Summary.
4. Sustainable and natural environment, including protecting and enhancing biodiversity and ensuring the health and sustainability of natural resources. View the Evidence Summary.
5. Communication, information and education, including building networks to disseminate trusted and timely information and providing learning opportunities for the community to prepare for unforeseen circumstances. View the Evidence Summary.

We tested this thinking with you during community engagement from 15 September to 29 October 2023.