Shaping the future of our Green Wedge: have we got it right?

The wellbeing impacts of green spaces, the environmental significance of natural landscapes, reduced pollution and flood impact and local agricultural jobs are just some of the things you told us you love about the City of Whittlesea’s Green Wedge.

Last year we asked our community to help us shape our new 10-year Green Wedge Management Plan. We asked people what they loved and valued about these areas and how we should work to protect them.

Now Council has drafted a new Green Wedge Management Plan and is seeking your feedback on it.

Chair Administrator Lydia Wilson said Council wanted to check-in and make sure the plan reflected the priorities of the community.

“From our community consultation last year, we know these spaces are not just environmentally significant but provide our community with opportunities to enjoy recreation and leisure time,” she said.

“Council is committed to protecting our Green Wedge but also updating our plan to ensure we best represent what our community values.”

About 60 percent of land in the municipality is protected by the Victorian Government from further urban development – an area three times the size of Phillip Island.

Known as the Green Wedge, these areas include our much-loved national parks, forests, reservoirs, significant Aboriginal and European heritage sites and nationally significant plants and animals as well as farms.

In preparing the new Whittlesea Green Wedge Management Plan 2022–2032, more than 100 people told us what aspects of the Green Wedge they value the most including:

• the positive effects on wellbeing from enjoying green natural spaces
• environmental significance of the area; natural landscapes and features like hills, trees, waterways and animals
• environmental benefits, including reduced pollution in the air and water, and reduced heat or flood impact from extreme weather
• local food produced in the area
• local jobs in agriculture and related industries
• other values, such as cultural and spiritual connection to the land.

“Council has considered all feedback and ideas to help us prepare this draft plan and now we are checking back in with our community to make sure we’ve captured your thoughts,” Ms Wilson said.

The development of the new plan comes off the success of the previous plan which was adopted by Council in 2011.The Whittlesea Green Wedge Management Plan 2011–2021 contained 84 actions of which 49 have been completed, five are still underway and 30 have become business as usual, including working with the local Aboriginal community and rural communities, providing business support to help keep farmers on the land, and partnering with community groups to better care for our waterways and environment.

The new draft plan will be available for your comments from 23 May 2022. For more information or to stay updated visit Shaping the Future of Our Green Wedge at engage.whittlesea.vic.gov.au