Find out more about how our community used our services in the 2024-25 financial year.

Our vision represents our commitment to the community outlined in our Boroondara Community Plan 2021-31.

Our purpose and values describe how we'll work together to achieve our goals for the community.

Vision

A sustainable and inclusive community.

Purpose

We work together to deliver the community priorities and place our customers at the centre of everything we do.

Values

We'll create a collaborative and customer-centric culture which connects our people to our purpose, inspires them to be their best and provides a great place to work. You can read about these values on Our values page.

Our role as a council

The City of Boroondara is established through and governed by the Local Government Act 2020 and is committed to our community’s vision to create ‘a sustainable and inclusive community’. 

Planning

Working directly with the community to ensure community needs are anticipated and met, now and into the future.

Delivering

Directly delivering services, programs or facilities at the local level.

Partnering

Working collaboratively with residents, community groups, the State and Federal Governments and other stakeholders to facilitate desired outcomes and build community capacity.

Advocating

Taking into account the diverse needs of our community and representing community interests to influence industry, peak bodies, associations​ and State and Federal government decision-making.

History

The area now known as the City of Boroondara is located on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people in the inner eastern suburbs of Melbourne and includes the all suburbs of Boroondara. The City of Boroondara’s name is derived from the Woi-wurrung language meaning ‘where the ground is thickly shaded.’

The Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung community has a strong historical, cultural and spiritual connection to their traditional lands and waterways. They continue to practise the responsibilities bestowed by their ancestors of protecting, preserving and managing the land and waterways in accordance with culture and traditions.

In Boroondara, there are:

• 10 Aboriginal archaeological sites
• 2 Aboriginal historic places that are registered with the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council.

The locations of the sites are confidential, so they can be properly preserved and protected.

In addition to these sites, Boroondara is home to culturally significant places that support connection to Country, deepen understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures, and contribute to reconciliation. You can find out more on our  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples page.

City profile

Boroondara has an estimated residential population of 178,008 people (as of 30 June 2024). Our residents were born in more than 150 countries and speak more than 120 languages. Boroondara has one of the highest concentrations of schools of all Victorian local government areas.

You can find out more about our demographics in the City of Boroondara Community Profile on the id Community website.

We have 53 shopping centres and strips, with the main shopping strips located at:

• Camberwell Junction
• Glenferrie Road
• Hawthorn
• Kew Junction.

In 2024, a quarter of our residents earned $2,000 or more per week and 18.6% of our residents were volunteers.

Council wards and councillors

The City of Boroondara has 11 Council wards. Individual councillors, elected by community members for a 4-year term of office, represent them. Our wards and councillors are:

• Studley Ward - Cr Sophie Torney (Mayor)
• Gardiner Ward - Cr Victor Franco (Deputy Mayor)
• Bellevue Ward - Cr Michael Nolan
• Cotham Ward - Cr Felicity Sinfield
• Glenferrie Ward - Cr Wes Gault
• Junction Ward - Cr Mal Osborne-Smith
• Lynden Ward - Cr Lisa Hollingsworth
• Maling Ward - Cr Shima Ibuki
• Maranoa Ward - Cr Chris Pattas
• Riversdale Ward - Cr Rob Baillieu
• Solway Ward - Cr John Friend-Pereira.

You can find out more on our Mayor and councillors page.

Our organisational structure

Our Executive Leadership Team includes our CEO, 4 directors and 3 senior leaders. The team members are:

• Chief Executive Officer, Phillip Storer
• Director Community Support, Kate McCaughey
• Director Urban Living, Scott Walker
• Director Places and Spaces, Daniel Freer
• Director Customer and Transformation, Nigel Morris
• Executive Manager People, Culture and Development, Mary-Anne Palatsides
• Chief Financial Officer (Acting), Sapphire Allan
• Manager Governance and Legal, Bryan Wee.

You can find out more about our current Executive Leadership Team on our CEO and executive team page.

This is a summary of our performance for the 2024-25 financial year. You can find more information in our Financial Report and Performance Statement from our Independent Auditor in the full annual report.

Obligations

Council ensures it maintains infrastructure assets at expected levels while continuing to deliver the services needed by the community.  We invested $50 million in renewal works including the renewal of buildings ($18.01 million), roads ($13 million) and drainage ($4.81 million) during 2024-25. This was funded from capital grants of $5.00 million and cash flow from operations of $45.00 million. At the end of 2024-25, Council’s loans and borrowings repayment ratio, measured by comparing interest-bearing loans and borrowing repayments to rate revenue, was 5.21%.

Asset renewal ratio is measured by comparing asset renewal and upgrade expenditure to depreciation and was 125% in 2024-25. This is a reduction on previous years due to a review of the timing of planned renewal projects, resulting in some planned works being deferred to be undertaken in future years.

Council provides a broad range of services ranging from libraries, family and children’s services, traffic regulation, open space, youth facilities, waste management and community strengthening; to business development, planning for appropriate development and ensuring accountability of Council’s budget. These services and community infrastructure, support the wellbeing and prosperity of our community.

Economic factors

Council continues to operate in a complex and evolving economic and policy environment. Inflationary pressures, rising construction costs and increased service demands continue to place a strain on Council’s financial resources. The cost of delivering infrastructure and services continues to grow, while revenue remains constrained under the Victorian Government’s rate capping framework. Residents are experiencing higher living costs, affecting household budgets and discretionary spending. This trend has implications for local businesses and community services, which may see changes in demand and operational costs.

Boroondara’s strong financial management has delivered a positive year-end result, enabling Council to continue addressing the ongoing requirement for asset renewal and ensuring facilities meet the evolving needs of the community.

Population growth and housing affordability remain pressing issues for Boroondara and other Victorian councils. The Victorian Government’s planning reforms, set ambitious targets to deliver over 2.2 million new homes by 2051, with a strong focus on high-density development in key areas such as Camberwell Junction. These reforms prioritise housing delivery in locations with access to jobs, transport and essential services, but have significantly reduced Council’s role in planning decisions and limited opportunities for community input. The reforms also fail to guarantee the infrastructure investment needed to support growing populations, placing increased pressure on Council’s open space, parks, sporting facilities, transport networks, schools, healthcare and community services.

Digital transformation is another key factor shaping the future of local government. Councils are expected to adopt smart technologies and integrate artificial intelligence (AI) to improve service efficiency and responsiveness. While these innovations offer significant potential, they also present challenges related to implementation costs, cybersecurity risks and workforce capability.

Climate change and environmental sustainability are increasingly influencing Council’s operations and strategic planning. Rising temperatures, more frequent extreme weather events and biodiversity loss are driving the need for long-term investment in resilient infrastructure, sustainable urban design and greening initiatives. A key challenge ahead will be maintaining Boroondara’s high standard of environmental quality, liveability and heritage character in the face of climate impacts, water scarcity, increased pollution and growing population densities.

In summary, Boroondara continues to face a range of external economic and policy challenges that are increasing cost pressures and limiting revenue flexibility. Council remains committed to prudent financial management to ensure the sustainability of services and infrastructure for the community. Council’s capacity to meet these obligations is challenged by the Victorian State Government’s imposed cap on revenue, a cap the state does not apply to itself.

Major projects

Our major projects included:

• Kew Recreation Centre redevelopment ($728k in FY2024-25)
• Tuck Stand ($1.54 million in FY2024-25)
• Kew Library Redevelopment ($305k in FY2024-25).

Performance by priority themes

The Boroondara Community Plan 2021–31 outlines 7 themes our community told us were important in 2017. In 2021, our community told us these themes still represent what they want us to focus on over the next 10 years.

Highlights of our FY2024-25 performance are on the following pages. 

At the heart of our community, we value safe, clean public spaces where everyone can come together, learn​ and enjoy activities. We appreciate having facilities and events that cater to all ages and backgrounds, fostering a sense of connection and harmony. We also value health and wellbeing services that support every member of our community, especially those who need it most. Our strategic objective is to ensure that our community services and facilities are high quality, sustainable, inclusive and strengthen our collective resilience.

Major achievement

Through major initiative 1.1, we implemented community roundtables as part of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiative for population groups including LGBTQIA+ communities and young people to inform programs and initiatives to improve mental health and wellbeing.

LGBTQIA+ community support

Our LGBTQIA+ community roundtable provided valuable insights to help Council create safer and more inclusive programs and events for LGBTQIA+ community members. We installed 3 flagpoles at Hawthorn Arts Centre, one of which permanently flies the Progress Pride Flag year-round. Suggested by the roundtable, initiatives such as this create more inclusive and welcoming places. 

We also enhanced other key programs, such as maternal and child health and now deliver a Rainbow Storytime in our libraries. We proudly celebrated IDAHOBIT in May 2025, with comedy-musical duo The Tuck Shop Ladies at the Kew Court House. Also, rainbow families and allies had fun at a rainbow-themed public ride session at Kew Traffic School.

Highlights for the year

• Summer in the Park festival spanned 19 free events, over 5,000 attendees and enjoyed a packed lineup from live jazz to opera, movies, comedy and even a Beatles singalong
• JJ McMahon Memorial Kindergarten in Kew was renewed as part of our early childhood facility renewal program.

In Boroondara, we're proud of our beautiful parks and open spaces and we're committed to protecting them. Seating, playgrounds, toilets, shade​ and recreation facilities make these spaces even more enjoyable for everyone. It's where we connect, exercise, relax​ and appreciate nature. Our strategic objective is to ensure these green and open spaces are available, well-used​ and continually enhanced for the benefit of all.

Major achievement

Through major initiative 2.1, we've reviewed and presented the Urban Biodiversity Strategy for adoption. It focueses on the protection and enhancement of our remnant vegetation sites and the increase of biodiversity across the City through landscape and vegetation management practices.

Urban Biodiversity Strategy

In September 2024, Council adopted the Urban Biodiversity Strategy – our 10-year plan to protect nature in Boroondara. It guides how we care for 525 types of native plants and wildlife, along with the land they call home.

We consulted with the community, experts and landowners to develop the new strategy. It includes a 2-year implementation plan with 25 strategic actions to help care for and improve the environment. Work is now underway to deliver these initiatives including increasing the land Council manages for biodiversity by one hectare each year and updating the Nature Strip Guidelines.

Highlights for the year

• Residents have an exciting new space to enjoy, with the upgrade of Kellett Reserve playground in Kew completed in May 2025.
• We proposed adding 313 new trees to the Significant Tree Register, which would bring the total number to 1,339 trees.

In our community, we're passionate about being leaders in environmental sustainability and preparing for the impacts of climate change. We’re eager to embrace new recycling and waste management practices to honour our commitment to the environment. Protecting our natural surroundings is a top priority, to ensure they stay healthy and resilient for generations to come. Our strategic objective is to keep the environment at the centre of every decision we make.

Major achievement

Through major initiative 3.3, we implemented actions under Council's Climate Action Plan, including a Sustainable Living Festival, solar installations and water harvesting on Council buildings, climate action grants and community partnerships to promote sustainable living.

Climate Action Plan implementation

We made strong progress on the 82 actions in our 2024-25 Climate Action Plan Implementation Plan. Our goals focus on helping the community lower emissions at home and on the move, making Council carbon neutral, and improving the city’s liveability.

Over the past year, we completed 66 actions, including installing electric vehicle chargers in busy locations, fitting solar panels on 22 Council buildings, and adopting the Tree Canopy and Urban Biodiversity strategies. We also planted 1,994 trees across Boroondara and hosted the Sustainable Living Festival, which attracted around 2,000 attendees.

Highlights for the year

• Nearly 6,000 people attended 90 workshops and events throughout the year as part of the Living for our Future and broader sustainability program.
• In October 2024, 4,500 people participated in the Boroondara Op Shop Trail, which encouraged the community to visit 22 local op shops and support the environment by buying second-hand.

In Boroondara, we cherish our local heritage and appreciate efforts to preserve the unique character of our neighbourhoods. We value careful regulation of new development and diversity in housing size and affordability. These aspects contribute to Boroondara's charm, making it a wonderful place to live, work​ and play. Our strategic objective is to protect our heritage and respect Boroondara's character while encouraging well-designed, appropriate development.

Major achievement

Through major initiative 4.3, we developed and advocated for planning controls that'll deliver the vision and outcomes from the adopted Camberwell Structure and Place Plan. We sought government funding and support for the delivery of the key projects, including public space upgrades to support the future growth of the precinct.

Camberwell Structure and Place Plan

Planning controls for the Camberwell Junction Activity Centre were introduced by the Victorian Government as part of its Activity Centre Pilot Program in April 2025. The controls for the commercial area were based on Council’s adopted Structure and Place Plan setting an exciting vision for the future development of the centre.

Highlights for the year

• Planning permit applications are being processed more efficiently than before with 68% of applications determined within the statutory timeframe – a 1.18% improvement on the last financial year.
• We developed a new draft Heritage Strategy and Action Plan that broadens our approach, recognising the diverse types of heritage and the need to promote and celebrate Boroondara’s rich culture. 

In Boroondara, we appreciate having a variety of public, private and active transport options to get around. We value initiatives that help reduce traffic congestion and provide safe, connected routes for cycling and walking, including well-maintained footpaths. These measures make life easier, save time​ and help the environment. They improve our quality of life at every stage. Our strategic objective is to ensure that travel options are safe, efficient​ and accessible, with a focus on encouraging active and public transport.

Major achievement

Through major initiative 5.2, we Installed energy efficient lighting along the Anniversary Trail between Mont Albert Road and Canterbury Road to encourage use and improve the level of safety and security of pedestrians and bike riders.

Anniversary Trail energy efficient lighting

We installed energy efficient amber lights along the Anniversary Trail between Whitehorse Road and Canterbury Road. This section of the trail passes through a corridor that’s home to many native animals. To balance the needs of wildlife and shared path users, each light has both white and amber bulbs. From dusk to 10 pm, the lights shine white, then switch to dimmed amber until 4 am, before returning to white until sunrise. The setup helps ensure the trail is usable for people in the early morning and at night, while the softer light is less disruptive to animals’ nocturnal behaviour or sleep.

Highlights for the year

• We advocated for the best outcomes for our community on North East Link project including planting trees and influencing design plans.
• We hosted a series of sustainable travel workshops to support our community’s active lifestyle and promote greener travel throughout the city.

In our community, we love our shopping strips​ — places where we can shop, catch up with friends​ and enjoy a meal close to home. We love supporting local businesses and would like to see more diverse shops open in our neighbourhoods. This lets us live locally and helps create a bustling local economy. Our strategic objective is to support local businesses and make our shopping precincts even more vibrant and welcoming for everyone.

Major achievement

Through major initiative 6.1, we commenced implementation of the adopted Glenferrie Place Plan to support economic vibrancy and offer more greenery and a safe pedestrian environment.

Glenferrie Place Plan implementation

We’re about to start construction of the Columbia Street upgrades. This will deliver more greenery, new seating and places for our community to gather. We’ll also add lighting and bluestone footpaths to make it safer. It’s a narrow space for walkers, cyclists and cars to share, so we’re widening the footpath and improving pedestrian accessibility. Construction is expected to commence in late 2025 and be completed within the first half of 2026. We’ve also completed the design for upgrading Glenferrie Road streetscape between Burwood Road and Park Street. We’ll now work to secure approvals for future implementation from the relevant authorities. Council’s adopted budget foreshadows construction funding to commence in the 2028-29 financial year, subject to final consideration and confirmation by Council.

Highlights of the year

• We formed a Vibrant Shopping Precincts Advisory Committee with representatives from each of Boroondara’s incorporated trader associations and 4 independent members.
• We supported  local businesses with regular workshops and training on topics ranging from sales and social media marketing, to leveraging AI for process improvement and strengthening resilience.

In Boroondara, we appreciate having strong, respectful leaders in Council who make transparent decisions and manage resources carefully. We like to be involved and informed about Council services and facilities to ensure everyone benefits and has a say. We also value Council advocating for community priorities and keeping us in the loop. Our strategic objective is to ensure that all decisions are financially and socially responsible, made through transparent and ethical processes.

Major achievement

Through major initiative 7.5, we commenced the consultation, deliberative engagement and development of the renewed Boroondara Community Plan 2025-35 to ensure we deliver what's most important to our community.

Boroondara Community Plan 2025-35 renewal

The Boroondara Community Plan is our guiding strategy. It sets Council’s priorities and helps us plan, make decisions and allocate resources to ensure we deliver on what is important to our community. To renew the plan for 2025-35, we ran an extensive community consultation process over 2 stages where we received more than 5,600 valuable contributions from our community.

This diverse range of perspectives help to shape a shared vision and the direction of the draft plan. The new plan will be presented to Councillors for adoption in October 2025.

Highlights for the year

• We advocated on Victorian Government planning reforms making a wide range of submissions, including new standards for residential developments, housing targets and planning controls to encourage housing development in and around activity centres across Boroondara.
• We started a plain language initiative to make our customers' experience with Council better, focusing on giving clear and accurate information that’s easy to understand. 

We provide leadership and good governance to the municipal district and the local community.

Our role includes:

• taking into account the diverse needs of our community in decision-making
• providing leadership by establishing strategic objectives and monitoring achievements
• ensuring resources are managed in a responsible and accountable manner
• advocating the interests of our community to other communities and governments
• fostering community cohesion and encouraging active participation in civic life.

We maintain strong relationships with other tiers of government, neighbouring councils, and organisations such as electricity and water distributors.

Council meetings and delegated committees

Attendance

Council meetings are open to the public and usually scheduled on the fourth Monday of each month. In accordance with the requirements of the Governance Rules, additional, unscheduled Council meetings may be called when required.

In FY2024-25, we held 18 Council meetings. The table below shows how many Council meetings each councillor attended. It also shows the Council meetings where councillors had leave of absence from the Council and were not present at the meeting.

Conflicts of interest

We require conflicts of interest to be disclosed by councillors, members of delegated committees, Council officers and contractors. The procedures for making disclosures vary depending on the role and circumstances, but they generally involve disclosing the relevant interest in accordance with the Governance Rules and then stepping aside from the relevant decision-making process or from the exercise of the public duty.

During FY2024-25, 15 conflicts of interest were declared at Council and Delegated Committee meetings.

Councillor allowances and expenses

Allowances paid to each councillor during the year are in the table below, along with councillor expenses for FY2024-25.

Councillors are reimbursed for expenses incurred while performing their duties. Expenses can be broken down into the following categories:

• Information and communication
• Accommodation and travel
• Professional development
• Other expenses (including levies and charges, membership fees, minor equipment purchases, general administration​ and childcare expenses).

A breakdown of these expenses is available in the complete Annual report.

This section provides an update on work undertaken by Council's external advisory committees. 

Audit and risk committee

The Audit and Risk Committee oversees and monitors the effectiveness of Council in carrying out its responsibilities for accountable financial management, good corporate governance, maintaining an effective system of internal control and risk management and fostering an ethical environment.

The committee meets 4 times a year. Recommendations from each Audit and Risk Committee meeting are subsequently reported to and considered by Council.

Internal audit

The following internal audit reviews were conducted as part of the internal audit plan for FY2024-25:

• statutory planning
• climate change adaptation
• library facilities
• grants management
• events management
• asset management - portable and attractive assets
• accounts receivable - sundry debtors and sundry revenue
• statutory building
• social media management.

External audit

We are audited externally by the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO).

Council external advisory committees

Arts and Culture

Boroondara Arts Advisory Committee update

The Boroondara Arts Advisory Committee met twice this year, in February and May. Items considered by the councillor committee members included:

• Boroondara Arts 2025 program update
• update on the progress of draft Boroondara Exhibition Policy
• future development of the Arts and Heritage Collection Policy
• artist development opportunities
• briefing on community request for Alice Anderson public artwork.

Boroondara Eisteddfod Advisory Committee update

The Eisteddfod Advisory Committee met once this year, in February. Items considered by the committee included:

• 2025 Eisteddfod briefing
• Eisteddfod winner and alumni opportunities.

Community Planning and Development

Boroondara Community Disability Advisory Committee

The Boroondara Community Disability Advisory Committee met twice this year, in March and May. The following agenda items were discussed at the most recent meeting:

• a presentation and discussion on the Boroondara's Volunteer Resource Centre's work to support inclusive volunteering
• a presentation on learnings from a project with the Ability Works inclusive design team and Belmore School students to understand how people with disability experience our playgrounds and parks
• a discussion about planning for International Day of People with Disability.

Boroondara Community Safety Advisory Committee update

The Boroondara Community Safety Advisory Committee (BCSAC) met twice this year, in January and April. The following agenda items were discussed at the most recent meeting:

• ­a presentation on Council’s communications activities to promote community safety, including an awareness campaign around shared path safety
• an update from Victoria Police about current crime and safety issues in Boroondara
• an update from members about their current activities and emerging priorities.

Boroondara Public Health and Wellbeing Advisory Committee update

The Boroondara Public Health and Wellbeing Advisory Committee met twice this year, in March and June. The following agenda items were discussed at the most recent meeting:

• a presentation from the North Eastern Public Health Unit on improving food security, creating healthier local food environments and implications for food relief response
• an update from Access Health and Community about its Cultural Connections to Wellbeing project
• a presentation from Access Health and Community on how the Social Inclusion Shared Measurement Project is being used as part of the evaluation of the Sunday Sessions program
• insights from the consultation for the renewal of Council's Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan and members' suggestions on actions for Council's Health Priority Annual Action Plan for 2025-26.

Boroondara Vibrant Shopping Precincts Advisory Committee

The Boroondara Vibrant Shopping Precincts Advisory Committee met twice this year, in March and June. The following agenda items were discussed at the most recent meeting:

1. member roundtable discussion from Advisory Group about issues impacting on local business
2. new initiative bids
3. Christmas decorations
4. shopping Centre Improvement Program.

Liveable Communities

Boroondara Youth Voice

The Boroondara Youth Voice met 5 times this year, in March, May and June. The following agenda items were discussed at their meetings:

• Governance: Introduction to Governance and Legal
• one leadership training session through Democracy 101 in partnership with YMCA
• Community engagement: Consultation with Strategic Communication
• Governance: Urban Planning Delegations
• Urban living: Heritage Strategy 2025-2041 and Action Plan 2025.

Climate Action Plan Advisory Committee

The Climate Action Plan Advisory Committee met 6 times this year, in February, March and April. The following agenda items were discussed at their meetings:

• report about process to developing a new CAP implementation plan
• report about Boroondara Sustainable Living Festival
• consideration of climate targets
• discussion of approach to baseline greenhouse gas emissions for  Boroondara
• presentation of draft implementation plan.

Marketplace Development Fund (MDF) update

The MDF meets regularly to decide on expenditure to promote Camberwell on Sundays. This year they contributed to: 

• Kylie and Dannii Day, September 2025