News from the Chamber – July 2024

An update from the most recent Council Meeting that took place on 16 July 2024.

More information is available at 2024 Council Meeting Agendas and Minutes. 

Planning Activity Update and Delegate Decisions including Planning Scheme Amendments Update – June 2024

This report provided Council with an update on:

• The status of Planning Permit Applications in June 2024
• Decisions made under delegated authority in June 2024
• The status of current Planning Scheme Amendments over the same period

In June 2024 Council officers made 66 planning determinations and 27 subdivision determinations under delegation, and 73 new planning permit applications were received. The value of development for these 73 applications is $21.1 million.

Two planning appeals were determined by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) in this period. At the end of June 2024, there were four appeals lodged with VCAT that had not yet been determined. This is nine less than at the end of June 2023.

Two amendments to the Brimbank Planning Scheme progressed in this period including:

• The gazettal of Amendment C225brim, which translates local policy into the new planning scheme format, including new policy identified as part of a planning scheme review
• A Council decision to seek authorisation from the Minister of Planning to prepare and exhibit Amendment C239brim to implement the Brimbank Housing and Neighbourhood Character Strategy 2024 into the Brimbank Planning Scheme.

Planning Compliance Activity Update 1 April 2024 to 30 June 2024

This report showed:

• Council’s Planning Compliance Unit received 123 new requests for service between 1 April and 30 June 2024.
• The number of requests received was higher than the previous quarter when 105 requests were received.
• 153 requests were resolved by Officers during the quarter.
• The most common requests received related to contravention of planning permit conditions, which accounted for 26 per cent of the total requests. Signage complaints (17 per cent) and uses (16 per cent) were the next most common requests received.
• Council issued 12 Planning Infringement Notices during this period. 

Planning Application P475/2023 for 8 Rawson Avenue, Sunshine

Council deferred the item to be considered at the next practicable Council meeting. 

Submission to Albion Quarter Structure Plan Discussion Paper                                                                                                

Council noted the Albion Quarter Discussion Paper which was prepared by the Department of Transport and Planning and endorsed the Submission to the Albion Quarter Discussion Paper and its lodgement with the Department of Transport and Planning.

The Albion Quarter Discussion Paper explores four key opportunities for development of the site which intersect with the principles and emerging ideas outlined in the discussions by the State Government.

The four key opportunities for development are:

1. A whole-of-precinct approach that provides space to grow jobs of the future.
2. Create a high quality, interconnected public realm that focuses on walking, cycling and amenity.
3. Support easy and efficient access and mobility across the Sunshine Precinct.
4. Build a contemporary Sunshine Precinct with a variety of building types, scales, and densities.

It was noted that the Victorian Government announcement of infrastructure investment changes in the May 2024 State Budget impacts the Sunshine Precinct, and that Council will continue to advocate for infrastructure investment in line with the Brimbank Advocacy  Plan 2023-25.

Council also resolved to send copies of the Submission to the Albion Quarter Discussion Paper to both the Hon. Natalie Suleyman MP, Member for St Albans and Sarah Connolly MP, Member for Laverton. 

Activity Centre Strategy Implementation Status – 2024

The Strategy aims to guides growth and development and includes objectives, strategies and actions to help facilitate vibrant community hubs and places where people shop, work, meet, relax and live.

The Strategy was adopted by Council on 16 October 2018 to replace the previous 2008 strategy. The Strategy provides planning and development guidelines for 53 activity centres in the municipality and contains a series of actions that seek to facilitate investment and development that supports the realisation of the vision.

The Strategy contains 67 actions to facilitate investment and development in the city, of which 85 per cent of actions have been commenced or completed.

A summary of the progress against the 67 actions indicates that:

• 12 actions (18%) are complete
• 45 actions (67%) are ongoing or business as usual, and
• 10 actions (15%) have not commenced.

Key actions and activities implemented from the Activity Centre Strategy in 2023/24 include:

• The delivery of activations across activity centres as part of the Enjoy Local Program, which encourages visitation and expenditure.
• Delivery of initiatives associated with the ‘Think Shop Buy Local and Google My Business’ campaigns at over 20 Local Activity Centres promoting businesses to local residents.
• The delivery of Activity Centre Strategy surveys at Sunshine, St Albans and eight other Local Activity Centres, as well as community consultation at Glengala Village seeking to understand business needs and feedback.
• The renewal of the St Albans Marketing and Business Development Special Rate which commences in the 2024/25 financial year.
• The adoption of the Alfrieda Street Master Plan that sets out guidelines for transforming and activating Alfrieda Street in the St Albans Activity Centre
• Completion of designs for streetscape improvements, including Devonshire Road, Sunshine, East Esplanade St Albans, and Billingham Road Local Activity Centre, Deer Park.

Ten actions have not commenced and many of these are constrained by site features, private ownership, and changing strategic priorities. Some of these actions are outside the control of Council but have been the subject of Council advocacy.

Brimbank Green Wedge Management Plan Implementation Status – June 2024

Council noted the Brimbank Green Wedge Management Plan 2010 Implementation Status Report.

There are 12 designated green wedge areas, including the Sunbury Green Wedge. A small portion of the Sunbury Green Wedge is in Brimbank, and is referred to as the Brimbank Green Wedge.

These are non-urban areas of metropolitan Melbourne located outside the urban growth Boundary and include key agricultural activities, biodiversity areas, cultural heritage sites and water bodies.

The Brimbank Green Wedge Management Plan was adopted on 3 August 2010, and sets a 20-year vision and series of long-term objectives for the sustainable use and development of land in the Brimbank Green Wedge.

This report reviews the progress of implementation of 96 actions to date, of which 84 per cent have commenced or are completed.

Key actions implemented from the Plan in 2023/24 includes:

• A verbal presentation to the Independent Review of the Maribyrnong River flood event
• Ongoing advocacy to the State Government including a submission to the consultation and engagement for the Legislative Assembly Inquiry into Securing Victorian Food Supply
• The renaming of Sydenham Park as yaluk barring park in recognition of the Aboriginal cultural history, which was gazetted on 30 May 2024.
• Successful and ongoing environmental management and pest animal and weed eradication including invasive noxious weeds like Serrated Tussock and Artichoke Thistle.
• Ongoing collaboration and partnership with community groups and stakeholders in undertaking activities on Council’s Environmental Events Calendar, including tree planting, field days and seminars.
• The commencement of processes towards the restoration of Robertson’s Homestead.

Governance Report July 2024

Council considered a summary of recent Governance activity.

This included a report on the exercise of delegated authority, Councillor Representatives and delegates reports from committees, Councillor declarations of Representations by Members of Parliament, and records of informal meetings of Councillors.

In addition, Council also:

• Noted the Minutes of the Audit and Risk Committee meeting held on 7 May 2024
• Noted the outcome of the Expression of Interest for the Green Gully Traffic School with the successful applicant being Inner West Community Foundation (trading as Local Impact).
• Noted that minor changes have been made to the Brimbank Housing and Neighbourhood Character Strategy 2024, and endorsed the revised Strategy
• Noted the establishment of the Brimbank Youth Jobs Program 2024- 2029 as a specialised initiative within the framework of the Local Jobs for Local People Program.

Return of General Valuation 2024

Council adopted the return of the General Valuation 2024 for all rateable and non-rateable properties made by the Valuer-General, in line with the Valuation of Land Act 1960 for the purposes of the Local Government Act 2020.

It is a statutory requirement, under the Valuation Act, to conduct an annual General Valuation and the valuations will be used to set the rates for the 2024/2025 Financial Year.

Return of Supplementary Valuations 2023/2024

Council adopted the Supplementary Valuations made by the Valuer General’s appointed Valuer, in line with section 13DF of the Valuation of Land Act 1960.

These valuations are completed for rating purposes.

Supplementary valuations are a statutory requirement under the Valuation Act.

The supplementary valuations must be set at market levels attainable as at the last General Valuation, which was 1 January 2023.

Glengala Road Village Streetscape Improvements 

Council has adopted a Concept Design for the Glengala Road Village Streetscape Improvements Project.

Council also considered:

1. the feedback received as part of the consultation process for the Glengala Road Village Streetscape Improvement Project, including a petition dated 13 May 2024, regarding parking in Glengala Road.
2. the feedback over both stages of the project indicated a desire for a design that focussed on traffic calming, improved pedestrian safety, areas for people to sit, increased greenery and canopy cover and support for the local economy.
3. That the design option addresses the community’s feedback by: introducing a roundabout at the Simmie Street intersection; preventing U-turns through a central median strip; providing raised pedestrian crossings at key locations to increase walkability of the centre; relocating the bus stop and reconfiguring car parking resulting in no net loss of car parking, a greater allocation of space for pedestrians, footpath trading and bike parking; more greening and shade by more plantings; and installing new wayfinding and parking signage.

The design that was adopted addresses the pedestrian and vehicle safety issues identified in the community feedback, and balances these with a new visitor friendly and green Village, as widely desired by the community.

This design had also been supported by the majority of respondents in the community engagement process.

Feedback from the community indicates that 75 per cent of people are likely to spend more time in the village once these improvements are implemented.

Work will now begin on the detailed design of the new streetscape. There will be opportunities for community involvement in various aspects of the design, so keep an eye on Council’s website.

Construction of the new streetscape is scheduled for 2026, subject to budget allocations.

Visit yoursay.brimbank.vic.gov.au to learn more.