Place-based Resilience Planning
Yarra Ranges Council, in partnership with local communities, has successfully delivered the Place-Based Resilience Planning Project—a strategic initiative to build resilience and reduce bushfire risk across Monbulk, Healesville, Yarra Junction, and Mount Dandenong/Kalorama.
The project empowered residents, community groups, and agencies to co-design tailored strategies that protect what matters most—lives, homes, local infrastructure, and the natural environment.
Measurable Risk Reduction
Through community-led planning and fuel management strategies, the project will achieve significant reductions in bushfire risk once operationally implemented.
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16% reduction in residual fire risk – Yarra Junction
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14% reduction – Kalorama, Olinda, and Mount Dandenong
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7.3% reduction – Monbulk
These figures reflect the power of community collaboration and data-driven planning, with local knowledge backed by Phoenix fire modelling and expert input.
Community Groups:
Kalorama
Recognised as one of the region’s highest bushfire-risk areas, the Kalorama Fuel Management Group has developed and reviewed a community-led Bushfire Management Plan.
Through walking inspections, the group identified and reported properties of concern to Council’s Fire Hazard Inspection Program. The group has also mapped priority fuel reduction zones and is now engaging with residents through local events and targeted outreach.
“If we get the local community on board, we can reduce the bushfire risk by 14 percent. That’s a huge difference,” said Bill Robinson, Kalorama Fuel Management Group member.
Healesville
The Healesville Community Emergency Group has completed a landscape-scale Bushfire Impact Mitigation Plan for the 3777 postcode. This plan incorporates science-backed strategies that consider terrain, fuel loads, and ecosystem responses to fire.
Key recommendations span
- The Built Environment (all structures, not just town centres)
- Modified Rural Landscapes beyond building envelopes
- Natural Ecosystems
“The plan reflects the local knowledge we have in Healesville and gives us a clear, science-backed roadmap for protecting what we value most,” said Graham George, local volunteer.
For more information you can contact the Bushfire Planning team at earthcarepc@virtual.net.au.
Read the Plan - Healesville Bushfire Mitigation Plan(PDF, 4MB)
Yarra Junction
The Yarra Junction Bushfire Mitigation Group developed a community-led plan to reduce fuel in the Asset Protection Zone and educate locals on fire behaviour.
After a successful field day and fire modelling analysis, the community’s efforts showed:
“Fuel management is a practical and achievable way to reduce risk—especially when the whole community gets involved.”
Monbulk
The Monbulk Fuel Management Group reviewed and updated the township’s Bushfire Fuel Management Guide (originally developed in 2017) with DEECA and specialist contractors. This guide now offers updated tools and advice for future fuel planning across Monbulk and similar townships.
One exciting innovation from Monbulk is the development of The Adaptation Game (TAG)—an interactive, school-ready activity designed to help people of all ages understand local disaster risks and how to respond effectively.
