An update from the most recent Council Meeting that took place on 16 August 2022.
More information is available at 2022 Council Meeting Agendas and Minutes.
Draft Economic Development Strategy 2022-2027
Council endorsed the draft Economic Development Strategy 2022-2027 for community consultation.
The draft strategy will guide Council’s economic development activity and will grow and support the local economy through business development, support and growth; investment attraction and facilitation; and employment participation and growth.
Four themes areas will guide these future efforts:
- A productive, innovative and sustainable business base.
- Vibrant, prosperous and accessible precincts and places.
- An engaged and job ready community.
- Leading the way in economic development practice.
The draft strategy includes a detailed action plan and feedback from the four week community consultation period will inform finalisation of the draft strategy.
For more information and how to make comment visit yoursay.brimbank.vic.gov.au/ by Thursday 15 September 2022.
Transforming Brimbank 2021-2022 Update
Brimbank Council has published the Transforming Brimbank 2021-2022 update, showing key milestones that have been achieved over the past 12 months.
The majority of investment and change is planned to occur in the Sunshine Precinct, which is expected to have up to 43,000 additional residents and an additional 29,000 jobs created by 2051.
Advocacy Report – Community Campaign (Melbourne Airport’s Proposed Third Runway)
If Melbourne Airport’s proposed third runway is approved, it will mean significantly more planes flying over Brimbank’s suburbs and a worrying frequency of loud aircraft noise events.
Of greatest concern to Council is the health risk this creates for many of the residents as well as the impacts on the cognitive behaviour and educational outcomes of our children.
At the August meeting, Council endorsed a community activation campaign that will call on the Australian Government to commission an independent health impact assessment that is in line with the World Health Organisation’s guidelines. Such an assessment will provide the necessary evidence that the Government cannot ignore in making an informed decision on Melbourne Airport’s proposal.
Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre Operational July Update
The Operational update to Council noted that the construction of the new Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre on Taylors Road in Keilor Downs is nearing completion and preparations are well underway to get the facility ready for operation. The Centre is planned to be open to the public in early-mid September 2022 (date to be confirmed).
The three tenant partners that will deliver their specialist services from the hub were recently welcomed on site for a project update and to see their respective spaces. These partners are Distinctive Options, Comma Unity plus Services and Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand.
During the project Council has been working with the Brimbank Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee (BATSICC) to develop initiatives that recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and inclusion.
The initiatives include recruitment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, an indigenous artwork in the foyer, traditional owner acknowledgment plaque, indigenous tree planting and the naming of rooms with Aboriginal names.
At the Council Meeting it was agreed Aboriginal names would be given to seven rooms identified for community use at the Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre.
Youth Mental Health
Council’s Mental Wellbeing Plan 2022 – 2024 details the following actions relevant to
young people:
- advocate to extend specialist youth counselling services
- deliver youth-orientated activities in varied spaces
- deliver Teen Mental Health First Aid Training to students in years 7-12
- seek resources to increase community capacity building in the delivery of mental health services to young people
- inform and educate communities on mental wellbeing supports and services.
Implementation of these actions is currently being undertaken.
Council also endorses the recruitment of two temporary Youth Wellbeing Officers to support mental health and wellbeing outcomes for young people in Brimbank covering the 2022/23 and 2023/24 financial years.
Final Draft Creating Streets for People Policy
Council has adopted the Creating Streets for People Policy, as a long term vision to guide how Brimbank’s streets should look, function and support the community.
The policy responds to the growing desire in the community for greener and cooler streets, improved safety, more trees, and social areas for outdoor dining.
The Creating Streets for People Policy will guide future investment in Brimbank’s street network to create people-focused places, which allow for sustainable active travel choices, foster community cohesion and adapt our environment for the future climate.
To see the full policy, go to www.brimbank.vic.gov.au
Creating Better Parks Policy and Plan – Community Report Card for 2021/2022
Council endorsed the Creating Better Parks Policy and Plan Community Report Card for 2021/2022, which provides a summary of the implementation of the Creating Better Parks Policy and Plan.
A key objective of the report card is to showcase the extensive upgrade works completed across the park network in Brimbank.
By the end of the reporting period of 2021/2022, 134 parks have been upgraded and approximately $44 million invested since implementing the policy in 2008.
The current park network includes:
- Seven Flagship Parks
- 30 Suburban Parks
- 123 Neighbourhood Parks
- 100 Local Reserves.
The implementation of the Creating Better Parks program during 2021/2022 included the following park upgrades:
- Suburban Park Upgrade at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve
- Neighbourhood Park upgrades at:
- Caprice Court Reserve, Keilor Downs
- Shirley Street Reserve, St Albans
- Elford Green Reserve, Cairnlea
- Local Reserve / Pocket Park Upgrades at:
- Glengala Pocket Park, Sunshine West
- Cary Street Pocket Park, Sunshine North
- Peppermint Grove Reserve, Cairnlea
- Skate Park upgrades:
- Errington Reserve Skate Park, St Albans
- Packard Street Reserve Skate Park, Keilor Downs
- Shared User Paths (SUPs) in Reserves:
- Green Gully reserve shared use path upgrade, Keilor Downs
- Kororoit Creek shared use path – Isabella Williams Memorial Park to Shepherds Grove, Kings Park
- Dog Off-Leash Reserve at Kevin Flint Memorial Reserve
- Sports Facilities in Parks – new basketball court at Balmoral Park, Derrimut
- 15,228 tubestock planted in parks
- 244 semi-mature trees planted in reserves.
Climate Emergency Plan Report Card 2021/2022
Brimbank Council’s response to the global climate emergency is a top priority, and it is beginning to achieve some important results.
Significant progress has been made towards a cooler, greener and healthier Brimbank in the second year of implementation of Brimbank’s Climate Emergency Plan 2020-2025.
This includes the opening later this year of the Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre, Australia’s first all-electric renewable energy powered aquatic facility. While its doors have not opened yet, it has already been recognised for its world-leading sustainability features.
The Brimbank Climate Emergency Plan Annual Report Card was presented at the 16 August Council Meeting.
It sets Council’s path to achieve zero-net emissions in its own operations by 2030 and lead the community to achieve a resilient, zero-net emissions Brimbank Municipality by 2040.
Waste, Recycling and Litter Strategy Community Report Card 2021/2022
Brimbank Council continues to work towards increasing recycling and reducing waste to landfill in the community.
So how did we go in the last financial year?
According to the Waste, Recycling and Litter Strategy Community Report Card for 2021/2022 about 42 per cent of Brimbank’s waste was diverted away from landfill. That’s 31,787 tonnes of waste recycle.
This is despite the continuing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic impacting staffing and increasing kerbside waste as we spend more time at home.
Council’s residential hard waste collection service continued to be popular. There were 20,769 collections completed, and 20 per cent of items collected were recycled.
You can check out the full Waste, Recycling and Litter Strategy 2018-2028 Community Report Card 2021/2022 by visiting Council’s website at brimbank.vic.gov.au Also visit brimbank.vic.gov.au to learn more about how to recycle more and responsibly dispose of your waste.
Notices of Motion
At the Council Meeting on 16 August 2022, Councillors put forward one notice of motion:
- Notice of Motion – raised by Cr Virginia Tachos – Improve regulation of e-cigarettes
Media enquiries: Leigh Newman, Media and Communications, Brimbank City Council, Ph: 9249 4783 / afterhours 9249 4340 or email media@brimbank.vic.gov.au
