Appendix 4

Appendix 4 presents the monitoring and evaluation framework for the Burndap Birrarung burndap umarkoo Yarra Strategic Plan (YSP).

It outlines the vision, strategic goals, and expected outcomes for the Yarra River, Birrarung, recognising it as a living natural entity and celebrating the vital role of Traditional Owners.

The framework guides organisational practice, collaborative actions, and decision-making across responsible public entities to ensure the river’s ecological, cultural, and social values are protected, enhanced, and sustained over time.

Vision

The Yarra River as one integrated and living natural entity. Our Yarra River, Birrarung, is respected, understood and protected. The vital and continued role of Traditional Owners as custodians of the River, and its role in their culture, is recognised and celebrated. Our Yarra River, Birrarung, and its diverse surrounding landscapes provide a place of refuge, recreation, learning and livelihood.

It brings communities together and supports sustainable local economies. Its clean waters and connected network of thriving green spaces nurture biodiversity and deepen the relationship between people and nature. Our Yarra River, Birrarung, is respected as a sacred natural living entity and everyone takes responsibility for its care. Its health and integrity are paramount and uncompromised.

Strategic goals and objectives

1. Organisational practice reflects a sustained commitment to implement Burndap Birrarung burndap umarkoo Yarra Strategic Plan (YSP)
2. Formalised and sustained cross organisational planning and management
3. Traditional Owners are decision makers and delivery agents on their Country alongside local and state authorities
4. The rich heritage of the Birrarung and its stories is acknowledged protected and commemorated
5. Land, floodplains and billabongs are protected to achieve greater biodiversity and water quality for Birrarung
6. Improved river parklands support community wellbeing and strengthen the relationship between the river and its community and visitors
7. Birrarung's natural beauty, landscapes and views are protected and celebrated

End of strategy outcomes (8 years)

1. YSP principles are understood, valued and operationalised at all levels of the organisation
2. There is committed and ongoing resourcing for YSP implementation
3. There is increased collaboration between responsible public entities and Traditional Owners
4. There is increased capacity and participation of Traditional Owners in design and implementation of YSP initiatives
5. Terrestrial and aquatic habitats are improved, connected and maintained resulting in improved biodiversity, increased resilience and net gain in their overall extent and condition
6. Populations of native fish including threatened species are improved
7. Areas of parklands are increased to improve habitat connectivity and reduce fragmentation
8. Opportunities for access to the river, community connection, recreation and cultural awareness are increased and enhanced whilst improving and protecting biodiversity
9. Waterway condition/water quality is improved in accordance with targets set in the Healthy Waterways Strategy

Mid-strategy outcomes (5 years)

1. There is a relative increase in multipartner, collaborative projects being proposed and implemented
2. Partnership agreements between responsible public entities and Traditional Owners are established and embedded
3. Traditional Owners are increasingly involved in decision-making and management of parklands on their Country
4. Participation in land management activities by landowners, recognised Traditional Owners, managers and wider community increases
5. There are demonstrable improvements in the water quality and ecohydrology of the river
6. Sites and areas of cultural and historical significance, as well as historical river and land-based practices, are increasingly protected, recognised and celebrated
7. Landscape character significance including landform features and views, is documented, measured and increasingly protected through planning policy

Immediate outcomes (2 years)

1. Organisation's role and progress in supporting YSP implementation is reported in formal and informal communications
2. There is dedicated resourcing to support participation and capacity building of Traditional Owners
3. The YSP decision making framework and other shared tools and protocols are actively used to guide planning and action
4. The ecological, cultural, social and visual values of Birrarung cease to deteriorate
5. Yarra Landscape planning control actions are being implemented

Activities

1. Responsible public entities include YSP goals and activities in key planning, strategy and policy documents, agendas for senior staff meetings, and in reporting, action and risk registers
2. YSP Decision-making Framework embedded into activity planning, and net gain principles applied to projects affecting the river
3. Responsible public entities develop RAPs and Partnership Agreements
4. DTP (Planning Portfolio, formerly DELWP) incorporates the YSP Land Use Framework into local and state planning policy
5. Actions to ensure a healthy river and lands YSP collaborative actions 1 – 23
6. Actions to ensure a culturally diverse river corridor YSP collaborative actions 24 – 28
7. Actions to ensure quality parkland YSP collaborative actions 29 – 38
8. Actions to protect the natural beauty YSP collaborative actions 39 – 40
9. Yarra Landscape planning control actions (whole of river and reachbased)

Foundational activities and instruments

• Creation of the Birrarung Council
• Creation of the Yarra Strategic Plan
• Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarung murron) Act 2017
• Creation of YCC
• Healthy Waterways Strategy 2018

Page last updated: 20/11/25