We explain some of the highlights from the meeting below.

Council noted the community’s feedback on the draft 2025-26 Budget and draft Revenue and Rating Plan 2025-2029

The draft Budget and draft Revenue and Rating Plan were informed by the community’s feedback collected during our engagement program, Our Place, Our Plan. The drafts were then exhibited to find out if we understood correctly what the community had told us.

Draft Budget feedback

We received a total of 20 survey submissions. The community commented on topics such as:

• Glen Eira facilities
• Housing
• Activity Centres

Draft Revenue and Rating Plan feedback

We received a total of eight survey submissions. Comments were made on:

• Reforming the rating system
• How to raise revenue
• Services

The feedback will be used in finalising the documents for endorsement on 30 June 2025. They will then be used to help us maintain our services and allocate funds to the projects and initiatives that are most needed and valued by the community.

Council made decisions on canopy tree permit applications

Last year the decision was made to add canopy trees to the Classified Tree Local Law, now the Canopy Tree Protection Local Law. This means that removing either classified trees or canopy trees requires a permit.

In this round, six of nine applications were declined because the trees were healthy and structurally sound, not posing a safety risk or causing property damage.

These evidence-based decisions were assessed against clear, transparent criteria including:

• the condition of the tree
• if the tree is a safety hazard
• if the tree is causing property damage.

The Canopy Tree Protection Local Law is a direct response to our community telling us that retaining and enhancing tree canopy is the most important action we can take to improve air quality and address climate change.

Mature trees provide decades of environmental benefits: cooling streets, filtering air, supporting biodiversity, and improving mental health. Once removed, these trees take generations to replace.

This permit process aims to balance private rights with community needs. The urban forest is a shared asset, and the Canopy Tree Protection Local Law ensures that decisions about tree removal consider the broader community impact.

Glen Eira joins other councils across Melbourne in protecting canopy trees through local laws. We’re proud to be part of a regional movement to safeguard urban greenery.

Council noted the annual heritage report

The heritage report discusses progress of heritage work undertaken over the last twelve months.

Unfortunately, there have been significant delays in getting heritage protections in the Glen Eira Planning Scheme due to initiatives led by the State Government to boost housing.

Over the last 18–24 months the Minister for Planning has not authorised any of Glen Eira’s heritage protections (amendments). Without authorisation, amendments cannot progress to the public exhibition phase. Other councils are in a similar situation with their heritage amendments.

Despite the delays, we will continue to review suburbs throughout Glen Eira for places and precincts worthy of heritage protection. We will also continue to advocate strongly for the swift authorisation of Glen Eira’s planning scheme amendments by the Minister for Planning.

For more information and all the reports from the meeting, visit our Council meeting page.