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The Community Views team surveyed 274 residents from Yarra Valley in October 2025.

Yarra Valley in Yarra Ranges

Yarra Valley is made up of Beenak, Big Pats Creek, Cambarville, Don Valley, East Warburton, Gilderoy, Gladysdale, Gruyere, Hoddles Creek, Launching Place, McMahons Creek, Millgrove, Powelltown, Reefton, Seville, Warburton, Seville East, Wesburn, Woori Yallock, Three Bridges, Yarra Junction, Wandin East, Wandin North, and Yellingbo.

Living in Yarra Valley in October 2025

Yarra Valley Overall Liveability Index
Yarra Ranges
63.0
Healesville - Yarra Glen
60.5
Hills
68.5
Urban
62.0
Collected October 2025

Use the values and experiences matrix to understand the relationship between what your residents believe makes somewhere a good place to live and how they experience their local area in that regard. The matrix highlights the attributes that your community believe needs to maintained and improved to advance overall liveability.

Greater Importance & Worse Experiences    Greater Importance & Better Experiences    Less important attributes

Yarra Valley Overall Liveability Index

Yarra Valley Overall Liveability Index 57.6

Yarra Ranges Overall Liveability Index

Yarra Ranges Overall Liveability Index 63.0

Yarra Valley
Yarra Ranges
Importance
Experience
Feeling safe
Importance
Experience
73%
6.7
75%
6.6
Natural environment
Importance
Experience
62%
7.7
61%
8.1
Affordable decent housing
Importance
Experience
47%
5.0
43%
5.2
Health services
Importance
Experience
44%
4.4
40%
5.9
Sense of community
Importance
Experience
43%
6.6
43%
7.0
A lack of road congestion
Importance
Experience
38%
5.2
38%
5.4
Public transport
Importance
Experience
29%
4.7
32%
5.7
Making your way
Importance
Experience
26%
5.3
27%
6.1
Shopping, leisure & dining
Importance
Experience
22%
4.4
33%
5.7
Social cohesion
Importance
Experience
22%
5.9
20%
6.5
Sports and recreation
Importance
Experience
21%
7.0
18%
7.3
Good job prospects
Importance
Experience
18%
4.1
14%
5.0
Opportunity for all
Importance
Experience
17%
5.7
14%
6.4
Education
Importance
Experience
16%
5.1
19%
5.9
A prosperous economy
Importance
Experience
14%
5.1
12%
5.7
Cultural facilities
Importance
Experience
7%
5.0
12%
5.7
The arrows indicate whether a difference is statistically significant. Significance testing helps determine if a difference between two groups is likely real (shown by an arrow) or due to random chance (no arrow).
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Health and Wellbeing in Yarra Valley in October 2025

Physical Health

How would you rate your physical health?
Do you think your physical health will get better, worse or stay the same over the next year?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
7.2
Very poor
Excellent
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
7.1
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
13%
55%
32%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
10%
54%
35%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Mental Health

How would you rate your mental health?
Do you think your mental health will get better, worse or stay the same over the next year?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
7.4
Very poor
Excellent
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
7.4
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
11%
63%
26%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
6%
69%
25%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Social wellbeing

How would you rate your social wellbeing?
Do you think your social wellbeing will get better, worse or stay the same over the next year?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
7.1
Very poor
Excellent
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
7.2
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
11%
72%
17%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
9%
72%
19%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Financial circumstances in Yarra Valley in October 2025

How would you rate your personal financial circumstances?
Do you think your personal financial circumstance will get worse, stay the same or get better over the next year?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
6.1
Very poor
Excellent
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
6.3
Very poor
Excellent
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
28%
45%
27%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
24%
51%
25%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
How often, if ever, are you late meeting your financial commitments?
Do you think the economic situation in your local area will get worse, stay the same or get better over the next year?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 259)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1112)
Always late
2%
2%
Often late
5%
4%
Sometimes late
36%
30%
Never late
56%
64%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
46%
47%
7%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
44%
50%
6%
Get worse
Stay the same
Get better
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Impacts of climate change in Yarra Valley in October 2025

Which of the following best describes your personal views on climate change?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Climate change is happening and is caused entirely or mostly by human activities
33%
44%
Climate change is happening and is caused equally by human activities and natural causes
28%
29%
Climate change is happening and is caused entirely or mostly by natural causes
13%
11%
Climate change is happening, but I am not sure what is causing it
7%
6%
I do not believe climate change is happening
19%
10%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among those that believe in climate change, 40% indicated that their local area is currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 38% expected their local area to feel the effects within their lifetime. Of those, 5% were very confident that their local area would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 34% somewhat confident. 54% were not confident.

Please select the extent to which climate change is impacting or will impact your local area in your lifetime?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 223)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1048)
My local area is feeling the effects of climate change
40%
50%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect it will in my lifetime
38%
35%
My local area is not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect it will in my lifetime
22%
15%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
How confident are you that your local area will be able to adapt to the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 184)
Yarra Ranges (n = 910)
Very confident
5%
3%
Somewhat confident
34%
36%
Not very confident
40%
39%
Not at all confident
13%
16%
Don't know
7%
6%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among the group of residents that felt their local area is currently feeling, or will feel, the effects of climate change in their lifetime, the top local area climate-related events were: Bushfires (79%), Severe wind (75%) and Storms (66%). The top actions residents felt should be taken to address the effects of climate change in their local area were: Protect and enhance local biodiversity (plants and animals) (56%), Educate residents on how to live more sustainably (54%) and Reduce pollution of the environment (49%).

How is your local area currently, or how do you expect it will, feel the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 192)
Yarra Ranges (n = 919)
Bushfires
79%
78%
Severe wind
75%
73%
Storms
66%
69%
Extreme heat
55%
64%
Flooding
51%
46%
Droughts
42%
45%
Extremely cold temperatures
24%
23%
Landslide
20%
23%
Earthquakes
4%
7%
Sea level rise
4%
5%
Cyclones
3%
2%
Other
7%
3%
None of these
8%
6%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
What do you feel are the best ways to address the effects of climate change in your local area?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 184)
Yarra Ranges (n = 910)
Protect and enhance local biodiversity (plants and animals)
56%
67%
Educate residents on how to live more sustainably
54%
54%
Reduce pollution of the environment
49%
49%
Conserve natural resources (e.g. air, water, soil, etc.)
43%
48%
Adopt renewable energy sources
43%
48%
Encourage residents to buy locally
43%
41%
Create renewable energy sources
36%
38%
Provide options for recycling waste (e.g. household waste, food waste, e-waste, etc.).
35%
43%
Through more sustainable building and development practices
35%
42%
Host renewable energy projects in the local area (e.g. solar, wind, hydro, etc.)
34%
38%
The use of more sustainable transport options
32%
35%
Reduce carbon emissions in the local area
29%
33%
Other
12%
8%
None of these
5%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Impacts of climate change on residents

Among those that believe in climate change, 35% indicated that they themselves are currently feeling the effects of climate change and a further 40% expected to within their lifetime. Of those, 14% were very confident that they would be able to adapt to the effects of climate change and a further 61% somewhat confident. 20% were not confident.

Please select the extent to which climate change is impacting or will impact you personally in your lifetime?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 223)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1048)
I am feeling the effects of climate change
35%
42%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, but expect to in my lifetime
40%
43%
I am not feeling the effects of climate change, and do not expect to in my lifetime
24%
16%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
How confident are you that you personally will be able to adapt to the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 175)
Yarra Ranges (n = 892)
Very confident
14%
9%
Somewhat confident
61%
58%
Not very confident
15%
24%
Not at all confident
5%
6%
Don't know
5%
4%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Among the group of residents that felt they are currently feeling, or will feel, the effects of climate change in their lifetime, the top personal impacts were: Increased household running costs (e.g. energy, water, insurance, etc) (83%), Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items (57%) and Loss or damage to your home/property (43%). 42% feel climate change will reduce their quality of life somewhat, and a further 23% feel it will reduce their quality of life a lot.

How are you currently, or how do you expect to, personally feel the effects of climate change in your lifetime?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 175)
Yarra Ranges (n = 892)
Increased household running costs (e.g. energy, water, insurance, etc)
83%
88%
Food production, making it harder and more expensive to get food items
57%
60%
Loss or damage to your home/property
43%
43%
Challenges getting around (e.g. damage to roads, public transport)
42%
42%
My ability to leave my home due to weather (e.g. extreme heat, cold, rain, storms, wind, etc.)
37%
42%
Essential infrastructure vulnerability (e.g. water, electricity, gas, sanitation)
37%
45%
Challenges accessing essential services (e.g. emergency and health services)
30%
28%
Transport infrastructure vulnerability (e.g. roads, rail, public transport services)
27%
27%
Reduction in air quality
26%
30%
My ability to access nature due to weather (e.g. erosion of parks, coastal areas, etc.)
23%
29%
Reduced personal safety or health to myself and/or those around me
17%
24%
Reduced value to your home/property
14%
20%
Other
6%
3%
None of these
4%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower
Which of the following best represents how you believe the effects of climate change will affect your quality of life?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 175)
Yarra Ranges (n = 892)
It will improve a lot
0%
3%
It will improve somewhat
6%
5%
It will not change
17%
12%
It will reduce somewhat
42%
52%
It will reduce a lot
23%
22%
Don't know
12%
7%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Concerns in Yarra Valley in October 2025

What are the top three issues facing your local area?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Inflation/Cost of Living
57%
61%
Healthcare/Hospitals
42%
22%
Housing/Price of Housing
30%
36%
Transport
22%
18%
Law & order
20%
38%
Household Debt/Personal Debt
16%
16%
Population/Overpopulation
15%
16%
Drug/Alcohol Abuse
15%
12%
The Economy
15%
14%
Taxation
13%
13%
Petrol Prices/Fuel
10%
14%
Immigration
10%
8%
Unemployment
10%
5%
Environmental Concerns
9%
13%
Poverty/Inequality
7%
7%
Education
5%
5%
Race Relations/Racism
3%
3%
Defence
1%
1%
Issues Facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
1%
1%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Extreme Weather & Natural Disasters in Yarra Valley in October 2025

Thinking about the past five years, what impacts of extreme weather and/or natural disasters have you personally experienced?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Increased home and/or contents insurance premiums
70%
72%
Increased power costs
68%
74%
Long power outages
54%
57%
Higher food costs or food shortages
52%
56%
Long internet outages
31%
31%
Blocked major roads or transport routes
31%
31%
Damage to home/property
29%
31%
Could not keep home adequately warm or cool during extreme temperatures
29%
29%
Long loss of mobile phone services
28%
28%
Exposure to bushfire smoke
22%
29%
Unable to afford adequate home insurance
21%
13%
Loss of income due to inability to work
20%
17%
Health issues triggered by extreme weather
14%
16%
Disruption to water supply
10%
11%
Reduced access to essential services
10%
9%
Evacuated my home
7%
9%
Unable to obtain insurance
6%
3%
Unable to afford adequate business insurance
5%
2%
Damage to business/work premises
4%
6%
Other
4%
2%
None of these
2%
3%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

What “other” impacts of extreme weather events have you personally experienced?

When you need critical or time-sensitive information (e.g. during emergencies, service disruptions, major decisions), which organisations or authorities do you trust most to provide accurate and reliable information?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Emergency services
80%
83%
Major media agencies
34%
39%
State and/or federal government departments
20%
27%
Community organisations or leaders
15%
17%
My local council
12%
19%
Other
6%
7%
I don’t trust any organisations
9%
5%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

What “other” organisations or authorities do you trust most to provide accurate and reliable information?

Installed solar panels
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Currently doing/have done
39%
36%
Planning to do it in the next two years
9%
14%
Would like more information or support on how to do this
10%
14%
None of these
42%
36%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Installed a home battery
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Currently doing/have done
8%
7%
Planning to do it in the next two years
15%
17%
Would like more information or support on how to do this
20%
23%
None of these
58%
52%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Purchased an electric vehicle
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Currently doing/have done
4%
5%
Planning to do it in the next two years
5%
9%
Would like more information or support on how to do this
10%
12%
None of these
82%
74%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Purchased a home generator
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Currently doing/have done
52%
35%
Planning to do it in the next two years
12%
10%
Would like more information or support on how to do this
6%
11%
None of these
30%
45%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Switched to electric heating, cooking and/or water heating, or to more energy efficient appliances
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Currently doing/have done
34%
28%
Planning to do it in the next two years
5%
12%
Would like more information or support on how to do this
7%
10%
None of these
54%
50%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Installed insulation
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Currently doing/have done
59%
56%
Planning to do it in the next two years
10%
10%
Would like more information or support on how to do this
7%
7%
None of these
23%
27%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Installed double-glazed windows
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Currently doing/have done
20%
23%
Planning to do it in the next two years
9%
9%
Would like more information or support on how to do this
17%
18%
None of these
54%
51%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Reviewed our insurance to find a better or more affordable cover
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Currently doing/have done
51%
52%
Planning to do it in the next two years
14%
15%
Would like more information or support on how to do this
8%
8%
None of these
27%
26%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Moved to a different area within Yarra Ranges Shire
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Currently doing/have done
6%
6%
Planning to do it in the next two years
7%
6%
Would like more information or support on how to do this
3%
3%
None of these
85%
85%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Used government rebates (e.g. for solar power, or for electric vehicles and appliances)
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Currently doing/have done
22%
26%
Planning to do it in the next two years
6%
7%
Would like more information or support on how to do this
12%
13%
None of these
59%
54%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Changed daily habits (e.g. avoided outdoor activity during heatwaves)
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Currently doing/have done
55%
61%
Planning to do it in the next two years
2%
3%
Would like more information or support on how to do this
3%
2%
None of these
40%
33%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Prepared an emergency kit
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Currently doing/have done
46%
44%
Planning to do it in the next two years
13%
14%
Would like more information or support on how to do this
7%
11%
None of these
34%
32%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Made an emergency plan
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Currently doing/have done
59%
49%
Planning to do it in the next two years
12%
13%
Would like more information or support on how to do this
6%
10%
None of these
23%
28%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Started growing my own food
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Currently doing/have done
46%
44%
Planning to do it in the next two years
18%
14%
Would like more information or support on how to do this
5%
5%
None of these
31%
37%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Sought information on how to make our household more resilient
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Currently doing/have done
29%
32%
Planning to do it in the next two years
7%
8%
Would like more information or support on how to do this
12%
16%
None of these
52%
44%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Thinking about the past year, what actions have you taken to protect the environment?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Reduced household waste
54%
66%
Bought locally produced foods or grown my own food
50%
42%
Composted organic waste
47%
52%
Reduced use of single-use plastics or products containing microplastics
42%
54%
Avoided harmful chemicals in my home or garden
41%
42%
Conserved water at home
39%
44%
Used more sustainable energy
31%
30%
Planted or maintained a wildlife garden
29%
34%
Incorporated more plant-based meals into my diet
27%
29%
Improved energy efficiency
27%
28%
Reduced my meat or animal product consumption
20%
26%
Supported environmentally sustainable businesses
18%
16%
Started conversations about climate change with friends, family or community members
14%
16%
Chosen sustainable transport options instead of driving
13%
20%
Chosen environmentally responsible investment options
12%
13%
Participated in local clean-up or environmental events
9%
8%
Volunteered with local environmental or conservation groups
6%
8%
Other
2%
2%
None of these
12%
7%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

What “other” actions have you taken to protect the environment?

If you own your home, which of the following best describes the current level of home insurance coverage?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 119)
Yarra Ranges (n = 513)
Fully insured
63%
68%
Underinsured
19%
19%
Uninsured
5%
2%
Don’t know/Not sure
6%
5%
I don’t own the home
7%
6%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Local Area Experiences in Yarra Valley in October 2025

How often do you feel lonely or isolated?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Often/always
5%
6%
Some of the time
23%
19%
Occasionally
20%
24%
Hardly ever
25%
31%
Never
27%
20%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

Which of the following are you or members of your household unable to access within the Shire of Yarra Ranges?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 273)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1167)
Hospitals
48%
28%
Work
20%
19%
Tertiary education
14%
15%
Other community or health services
14%
9%
Primary healthcare (e.g., GPs)
13%
10%
Food and entertainment venues
12%
12%
Arts and cultural experiences
11%
11%
Shops
9%
10%
Leisure and recreational facilities
9%
15%
Vocational training
6%
5%
Childcare and/or kindergarten
5%
4%
Libraries
5%
6%
Parks and open/green spaces
5%
7%
Culturally safe spaces
4%
3%
School
4%
4%
Community groups
3%
5%
Sporting clubs
2%
3%
Other
5%
3%
None of these
28%
38%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower

What “other” services are you or members of your household unable to access?

Do you experience any barriers to accessing services or spaces within the Shire of Yarra Ranges? If so, what are those barriers?

Which of the following services would you like to see Yarra Ranges Shire advocate for to help us progress towards our Vision?
Yarra Valley 2025 (n = 274)
Yarra Ranges (n = 1168)
Health services
67%
44%
Transport infrastructure and services
36%
34%
Emergency services
25%
22%
Social services
23%
26%
Law enforcement
23%
29%
Affordable private housing
20%
22%
Food and entertainment venues
12%
12%
Education opportunities
12%
14%
Recreational facilities
12%
18%
Economic development services
11%
15%
Public utilities
10%
11%
Public and emergency housing
10%
11%
Environment services
6%
8%
Climate adaptation, emergency recovery
6%
11%
Cultural services
3%
5%
None of these
3%
2%
Significantly higher
Significantly lower