LATROBE City Council is inviting community feedback on its draft nature plan.

Feedback will guide the protection and enhancement of biodiversity across the municipality over the next 10 years.

The draft plan sets priorities for managing almost 680 hectares of bushland reserves, waterways and other council-managed land. These priorities will help guide future reserve management plans and annual works programs.

There are three key goals outlined in the draft plan:

Protect and prioritise biodiversity;

Restore, enhance and connect landscapes, and;

Educate and engage.

The draft nature plan was developed following community consultation in November 2025, with 150 submissions helping to shape the document.

This work supports the priorities outlined in council’s sustainability action plan 2023-2033 and council plan 2025-2029.

Latrobe City’s bushland reserves and waterways provide important habitat for native plants and animals, as well as offering opportunities for the community to enjoy and connect with nature.

Council plays an important role in protecting and enhancing these areas through planning, land management and environmental programs.

The community can view the draft nature plan and provide feedback through: yoursay.latrobe.vic.gov.au/nature-plan

Submissions close Monday, August 31, 2026 at 5pm.

ELSEWHERE, council has endorsed the draft Moe Activity Centre Plan for public exhibition, setting a long-term vision for the future growth and development of Moe’s town centre.

The draft plan, endorsed at Latrobe City Council’s July meeting, provides direction for land use, development, transport, public spaces and economic activity in the Moe Central Business District. The draft plan will help inform Planning Scheme Amendment C155.

The draft plan is the first of Latrobe City’s four major town activity centre plans to be reviewed through council’s strategic planning review program and will update the 2007 Moe Activity Centre Plan.

The draft plan has been informed by community consultation undertaken between November 2024 and January 2025 and focuses on four areas:

Land use and activity;

Built form and development;

Landscape and public realm, and;

Access and movement.

Proposed changes include introducing an Activity Centre Zone across most of the Moe CBD, updating local planning policy and applying an environmental audit overlay to sites identified as having potential contamination risks.

It also identifies opportunities to improve the Moe town centre, including better connections between major businesses and surrounding retailers, improved public spaces and walkability, investment and redevelopment, and stronger links across the railway line.

The proposed Activity Centre Zone would provide clearer planning guidance for development and include urban design guidelines in the planning scheme.

Council will seek authorisation from Minister for Planning, Sonya Kilkenny, to prepare and exhibit Amendment C155.

If authorisation is granted, the amendment and supporting documents will be placed on public exhibition later this year.