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Our next Event

Bi-Monthly Information/educational presentations.

7.30 pm, 19 November 2025.
Blackburn Lake Visitors Centre

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Save Energy, Save Costs -

Renovating to be energy efficient.

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Our two speakers will recommend easy to use resources specifically designed to help anyone get started on making the necessary changes to their home.

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Howard Elston will be talking about the environmental and economic benefits of improving the thermal efficiency of our homes to lower costs and reduce impacts on our environment. Howard received a sustainability award for his home in 2021, and is on the Eastern Climate Action Melbourne committee.

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Tim Baxter, from Rewiring Australia, will talk about the five decisions you can make at home to save money and the planet through home electrification.

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Environment Victoria will also be available with materials that will further inform and facilitate the process of positive change.

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Seating is limited. 
 

Bookings essential follow this Humaitix link,

 

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$  To assist CROWAG meet the increasing cost of public liability insurance, we ask attendees to make a small donation at the venue on arrival.

 

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Sunday 9th November 2025.

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​​​​​​​​A CROWAG Public Forum

Educate, Motivate and Empower community residents.

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Blackburn’s new “Activity Centre” - What it means for You.

Get information you need to make a submission on the proposed changes.

Blackburn is special and that needs to be recognised in the proposed planning changes.

Public consultation will allow you to have a say.

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Blackburn RSL — 2 Diggers Way Blackburn.
Sunday 9 November 2025,

1.30 – 4.30 pm.

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Make a booking

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The recorded Presentations will be made available on video Here...

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Slides of presentations.

Session 1

Session 2.

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See Below for Links to Useful Reference Information.

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Blackburn’s Activity Centre – What does it mean for You?

The State Government has included Blackburn, Nunawading and Mitcham  in the 60 new “Activity Centres”. This is a permanent town planning zoning change which allows higher and denser development, and removes your voice to appeal development.

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How might you be affected, and how you can be part of the process of its development? This CROWAG free forum will hopefully provide some answers. 

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Planning Minister Sonia Kilkenny has said the new blueprint to guide how Victoria grows, Plan Victoria, would … ‘‘give Victorians ...a say on how we shape our cities, towns, regions and communities for decades to come … that includes housing affordability and choice … liveable and thriving neighbourhoods, and climate action and sustainability.’’

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Getting involved – what can you do:
 

Phase 1 “Consultation” for Blackburn’s Activity Centre is open until 30th November, 2025.

Strong community feedback is critical to change the proposed Activity Centre boundaries so that tree canopy and heritage protection remains in the Whitehorse Planning Scheme.

Community values need to be emphasised and protected in feedback provided.

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You can provide feedback on the Activity Centres by:

• Attending an in-person information session:

  • 22 November, Nunawading

  • 27 November –  Blackburn

• Completing the online survey.

• Submitting a written submission – email to activity.centres@transport.vic.gov.au

Make a donation to support the battle.

Community groups will be mounting an advocacy campaign. Funding is needed please donate to: 

'Retain our Significant Landscape Overlays'.

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​The Forum.​

Expert planning and design presenters with local community representatives will help you understand the potential impacts.

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This will be interspersed with numerous Q&A sessions to provide the opportunity to better understand the key issues and share ideas on how we as a community can respond to the government’s proposed “Consultation” phase.

 

Objectives:

To engage Blackburn residents to help them understand the potential impacts that the proposed Victorian Government Activity Centre (AC) re-zoning means for their local area.

To encourage and empower Blackburn residents to make submissions on the proposed Blackburn AC when Phase 1 consultation Which has opened for consultation until 30th November. See Planning website.

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Speakers:

• Jeff Green, Director City Development at Whitehorse City Council. - Jeff joined Whitehorse City Council in 2007 following seven years with Bayside City Council. He has held several senior leadership roles, including Assistant Manager Statutory Planning and Manager Planning and Building, before being appointed Director City Development in 2014. In this role, Jeff provides strategic leadership across the City Development Division, encompassing City Planning and Development, Community Safety, Engineering and Investment, and Property and Leasing. He is focused on achieving high-quality, sustainable and balanced outcomes that enhance the city’s liveability and support responsible growth.
   

• Mike Scott – Planning Consultant and Developer at Charter 29. - Mike began his planning career in the UK before taking up senior positions in Victorian Councils. In 2001 he co-founded the consultancy Planisphere, where he pioneered methodologies for landscape assessment and Place DNA, winning more than a dozen professional awards. Mike currently chairs the RMIT planning industry advisory committee, runs professional courses in communicating with communities, and is a member of the Victorian Design Review Panel.
   

• Megan Short - Local Ecologist and Chair of the Blackburn Creeklands Committee. - Resident of Blackburn for over 50 years, member of  Blackburn Creeklands Advisory committee for 41 years and currently chairperson, Lecturer in Biological Sciences at Deakin University for 25 years.
   

• Rob Weiss - local resident and President of the Bellbird Residents Advocacy Group (BRAG) - Rob grew up opposite Blackburn Lake during the early battles to save Jeffrey Street from being “upgraded” with kerb and channel etc. He has been living in the heart of the Bellbird Area for the last 25 years and was cofounder of the Bellbird Residents Advocacy Group that has worked closely with Council to protect and enhance this special part of Blackburn.

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Links to Useful Reference Information.
 

• Investigation Area Maps with potential catchment boundaries: 

  • Maps - Blackburn​, Nunawading, Mitcham.​​

  • Blackburn map with SLO overlays.

  • City of Whitehorse prepared map

• Background Summary of key issues (BRAG)

• National Trust view on Heritage and Housing

• Information to assist with submissions
   

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Bi-Monthly Information/educational presentations.

7.30 pm, 18 June 2025.
Blackburn Lake Visitors Centre

Lets talk about our growing population.

 

Presenter - Ian Penrose - Former senior executive in the coal mining and natural gas industries. But after 27 years supporting big business, he switched his focus to the natural environment. Ian has worked on projects to restore the Snowy River, was the first Yarra Riverkeeper and he is concerned with the impacts of growing population on the natural world and the implications of urban development.

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Bookings essential, seating is limited. .... More details.

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RSVP – attendance is allocated on a ‘first in’ basis. 

 

$  To assist CROWAG meet the increasing cost of public liability insurance, we ask attendees to make a small donation at the venue on arrival.

 

Please email crowag.inc@gmail.com by 15th June to book a place.

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19th October 2024.

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​​​​​​​​A CROWAG Public Forum

Educate, Motivate and Empower community residents.

The Clash: 
Higher Density Living and a Changing Climate.

​Link to Forum References.

State of the Climate Report (BoM, CSIRO) issued 31/10/24

 

Link to presenters slides -

Neil Plummer, Joe Hurley, Stephen Rowley

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​Event description

 

The Clash: Higher Density Living and a Changing Climate – A free public event.

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Would you like to know more about coming climate change impacts in Whitehorse, do you worry about how planning laws will address those climate impacts?

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Come along to our special forum on 19th October 2024 at the Whitehorse Community Arts Centre, Box Hill . We are lining up some excellent speakers who are experts in their field.​

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Please note:

1. Parking is available, restriction free on weekends on Combarton St. and the 2 nearest streets off Combarton - Hannaslea and Patricia Sts. Also on the west side of Station St, opposite the venue along Alexander and Kent Sts. There is a pedestrian crossing to the venue.​​​

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Click to view venue Location Map.

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2. Bookings essential through the Humanitix site.            Book Now. 

3. Register by 12.45 and be seated for a 1.00 start.

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About the Forum.
 

Forum Aim:

• To learn from climate experts about the  realities of what we can expect in Whitehorse from further destabilising climate change including some surprises.

• Explore how new state government housing policy (Sept 2023) will  inevitably clash with climate change mitigation and adaptation objectives.

• And have your say about what the government and City of Whitehorse are doing to address the climate emergency and the threat of the new housing policy.

 

Program

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Planning Minister Sonia Kilkenny in a statement has said Plan Victoria would … ‘‘give Victorians a once-in-a-generation opportunity to have a say on how we shape our cities, towns, regions and communities for decades to come. We want to talk about a wide range of topics that affect how we live now, and what people’s lives will be like in the future: that includes housing affordability and choice, jobs and equity, liveable and thriving neighbourhoods, and climate action and sustainability.’’
 

Speakers.

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Neil Plummer
Board Director and Climatologist, Out of the Box Executive

 

Neil supports organisations in mitigating risks, and capturing opportunities, from the impacts of climate change and the clean energy transition. He also facilitates training on strategy, leadership, governance and business planning for government agencies and businesses. 

 

Neil is a non-executive director on the boards of Wannon Water and Geelong Sustainability, an executive director with Out of the Box Executive and on the Technical Advisory Board of Climate Communications Australia. In 2020 Neil became a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company of Directors and, in 2019, his climate services expertise was recognised with a Pacific Meteorological Council Lifetime

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Professor Joe Hurley.

Joe is a Professor with the Sustainability and Urban Planning program; and a member of the Centre for Urban Research. His research focuses on the intersection between urban planning and urban sustainability, and on the role of urban governance and policy in producing sustainable outcomes. He is a chief investigator on several research projects funded by the Australian Research Council; Victorian Department of Planning; and the Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN).

 

Joe takes a particular interest in the relationship between research and practice worlds and is actively involved in work to reduce the barriers to exchange and enhance collaboration.

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Dr Stephen Rowley

​Stephen Rowley is a Senior Associate at SGS Economics and Planning, an independent planning consultant (as RCI Planning), and an adjunct Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning and Design at Monash University. He has 25 years of experience as a planner across state and local government, and in private practice.

He is a recognised expert in the Victorian planning system, having written the standard text The Victorian Planning System: Practice, Problems and Prospects, the second edition of which was published in June 2023.

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Panel Discussion with presenters and filtered questions from the floor.

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​​Supported by: Bendigo Bank.

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​​Blackburn Village Residents Group (BVRG)

Blackburn and District Tree Preservation Society

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Bi-Monthly Information/educational presentations.

7.30 pm, 21 August 2024.
Blackburn Lake Visitors Centre

Managing Our Open Space.

The rapidly growing Whitehorse community is rightly concerned about availability of public open space (open to the sky) for passive and active recreation, access to nature, and its greening and cooling role.

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Whitehorse Council have developed a new 15 year Open Space Strategy, open for public comment until 30th August.

 

Hear how council has developed the strategy and how it will be implemented and regularly evaluated to achieve the strategy outcomes.

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Lisa Letic, City of Whitehorse Director of Community Services and Iris Wang, Coordinator Recreation and Open Space Development.

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Bookings essential, seating is limited. .... More details.

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Bi-Monthly Information/educational presentations.

7.00 pm, 19 June 2024.
Blackburn Lake Visitors Centre

Managing Our Urban Forest.

Forestree software for Council and residents to monitor trees.

 

Belinda Moody, City of Whitehorse Urban Greening Officer and Leonie Gibson, Coordinator Natural Environment & Strategy.

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Bookings essential, seating is limited. .... More details.

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Bi-Monthly Information/educational presentations.

15 February 2023.

The BIG QUESTIONS:

Protecting Democracy and Public Amenity.

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The Hon. Kelvin Thomson, Convenor -  Planning Democracy.

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For members and Affiliate members - limited to 38 people. .... More details. 

 

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1 April 2023.
A CROWAG Public Forum

Save Our Canopy Trees.

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Educate, Motivate and Empower community residents.

 

Event description

 

Save Our Canopy Trees Forum – A free public event.

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Are you concerned about the steady loss of tree canopy in Whitehorse and would like to do something about it?

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Come along to our special forum on 1st April 2023 at the Nunawading Community Hub. We have some excellent speakers lined up, including Dr Greg Moore OAM, chair of the National Trust of Victoria's Register of Significant Trees committee and a senior research associate at University of Melbourne, (Ecosystem and Forest Sciences), Burnley Campus.

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It will be an opportunity for you to have your say on what can be done in Whitehorse to improve tree protection and halt the decline in our tree canopy and to encourage full funding and implementation of the City of Whitehorse Urban Forest Strategy.

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Please note:

1. Plenty of parking is available off Springvale Road.
2. Register by 1.15 and be seated for a 1.30 start.  

 

About the Forum.
 

Understanding impacts:

• The advantages of trees and impacts of tree and understory loss on private backyards and public land.

• The mechanisms which lead to inappropriate development and removal of tree canopy and biodiversity.
   

Forum Aim:

• Your introduction to the City of Whitehorse Urban Forest Strategy (UFS) and encouraging its adoption into the Planning Scheme.

• Reform of State government planning provisions to retain neighbourhood character and tree canopy.

• More action by the City of Whitehorse to support improved planning, the protection of tree canopy and real implementation of its UFS

 

Community Empowerment:

• Identify actions you and others can take to help retain neighbourhood character, tree canopy and to build our urban forest.

• To document your requests and ideas for CROWAG to take to Council and the State Government.
   

Program

A detailed program will shortly be added to this page.

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About CROWAG

CROWAG (Combined Residents of Whitehorse Action Group) is a non-political, peak organisation in Whitehorse. It advocates for the entire community and its well-being. In addition to running educational seminars throughout the year, we liaise with state and local government and regularly make submissions seeking improved governance, transparency and decision making and for residents to have a stronger say, especially to achieve more appropriate planning.

 

We are working every week to improve community amenity, conservation, tree and heritage protections and to achieve more open space for families and the community generally. Members include people just like yourself, who join individually, or are one of our eleven (11) affiliate organisation members, representing a wide cross section of the community.

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We welcome new members. This is a great way to volunteer and to get a little more involved in taking action about things in which you believe.

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2022

 

Bi-Monthly Information/educational presentation.

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15 June 22. The City of Whitehorse CEO Simon McMillan.
 

​20 April 22. The City of Whitehorse Environment & Sustainability Reference Group (ESRG).- Mayor Tina Liu (Chair) and Cr Prue Cutts.

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2020 Council Elections

 

CROWAG congratulates successful candidates. A breakdown of votes by ward follows.

 

First Number = 1st Pref%

2nd number = Final%

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Cootamundra - Andrew Munroe - 37.26, 50.77

 

Eley - Trudy Skilbeck - 39.56, 53.32

 

Elgar - Blair Barker - 41.79, 53.05

 

Kingsley - Amanda McNeill - 31.26, 50.27

 

Lake - Denise Massoud - 46.58, 54.54

 

Mahoneys - Mark Lane - 25.25, 52.00

 

Simpson - Prue Cutts - 52.87, 52.87

 

Sparks - Tina Liu - 20.34, 51.34

 

Terrara - Raylene Carr - 43.62, 52.26

 

Walker - Ben Stennett - 50.65, 50.65

 

Wattle - Andrew Davenport - 51.62, 51.6

 

 

Candidate Statements - CROWAG Questionnaire.