An update from the most recent Council Meeting that took place on 18 June 2024.
More information is available at 2024 Council Meeting Agendas and Minutes.
Final Drafts Council Plan Action Plan 2024-2025, Financial Plan 2024-2034 And Annual Budget 2024-2025
Council adopted the Year 4 Council Plan Action Plan 2024-2025, the Financial Plan 2024-2034 and Annual Budget 2024-25, following community consultation.
These key strategic documents outline Council’s ongoing commitment to delivering our vision for Brimbank that strives towards a ‘beautiful, thriving, healthy and connected community.’
The priorities in the Action Plan and Budget have been shaped by the ideas shared during Council’s extensive community engagement process. More than 90 people were engaged in the community, and we received 55 online community contributions.
Council has delivered a financially sustainable budget while facing significant financial challenges such as climate change, cost of living pressures, ageing infrastructure and increased landfill levies, and a State Government rate cap of 2.75%, well below CPI.
In the coming year, we will focus on investing in the community and delivering essential programs and services that will further strengthen and build a resilient Brimbank community.
In 2024-2025 Council will invest $263.3 million into operations, to deliver 76 diverse services for our community. These range from arts and culture, and maternal and child health, to statutory planning and urban design.
We will deliver 81 actions that respond to priorities identified by our community through our consultation process. The initiatives include activities to strengthen community connections, foster mental and physical health, reduce the impacts of climate change, and contribute to the overall liveability of our city.
We’ll also be investing $58.7 million in capital works to deliver key projects and priorities that will help shape our future and build a city we can all be proud of.
To view the 2024- 2025 Annual Action Plan, Financial Plan and Budget visit www.brimbank.vic.gov.au
Governance Report June 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:
- adopted the amendments to the meeting schedule for the months of September 2024 and November 2024, and authorised the Chief Executive Officer to further amend the meeting schedule for September, October and November 2024 should special circumstances arise.
- endorsed the submission to the Inquiry into Local Government Funding and Service Delivery in Victoria. Brimbank’s submission highlights challenges specific to our Council along with support for the submission from Local Government Finance Professionals (FinPro). FinPro is the peak body representing local government finance professionals in Victoria.
Arbiter determinations and decisions
The Determination and Statement of Reasons for Decision of the Arbiter in the following matters were tabled in the 18 June Council Meeting Agenda papers, in accordance with the requirements in section 147 of the Local Government Act 2020:
- IAP 2024-4 Rasic & Ors and Kerr; and
- IAP 2024-5 Rasic & Ors and Tachos.
Governance Policies Review
Council considered five policies that have been reviewed, and endorsed that the updated policies be released for community consultation. These are the revised Councillor Code of Conduct; Councillor Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality Policy; Live Streaming of Council Meetings Policy; Public Transparency Policy; and the Councillor Support Policy.
Council also agreed that three other policies are suitable to be revoked because they duplicate existing content and/or their content can be transferred to other policies. These are the Councillor Transparency Policy; Councillor Respectful Conduct Policy; and Councillor Protocol.
Quarterly Advocacy Report June 2024
Council noted the major advocacy highlights for the period from early March 2024 to late May 2024. The highlights included:
- Release of the Albion Quarter Structure Plan discussion paper.
- LeadWest’s successful advocacy for new and improved bus services in Melbourne’s west.
- Expansion of the Westside Lodge public residential rehabilitation facility.
- Brimbank’s successful motions at the May 2024 MAV State Council Meeting.
- Improving Victoria’s Bus Network.
- Fast-tracking the rollout of mental health social inclusion action groups to all 79 LGAs
- Increasing the level of funding allocated for upgrading major highways.
- Launch of the ‘Improving the Calder Highway’ advocacy brochure, which attracted significant media coverage.
- Brimbank’s increased funding allocation under the ‘Roads to Recovery’ program.
- Initiation of the Jobs Victoria Mentors Program, targeting over 4,000 residents
- from five disadvantaged LGAs, including Brimbank.
- Extension of funding for the ‘Homes for Families’ program.
- Additional funding for three schools in the City of Brimbank. This includes St Albans Primary School, Albion Primary School and Sydenham-Hillside Primary School.
In addition, both the 2024-2025 State and Federal Budgets were announced in May. Whilst these included a number of funding commitments that align with Brimbank’s advocacy and budget priorities, Council is concerned with the four-year delay to the delivery of the Melbourne Airport Rail and the impacts this may have on the implementation of the Sunshine Station Masterplan as well as the rebuild of Albion Station.
Despite this, Council is aware that situations can change and will continue to advocate for the construction of the Melbourne Airport Rail to be delivered as soon as possible. Council is not alone when it comes to this matter and there is strong support from a wide range of stakeholders. Recent media articles have reported that the Federal Government appointed mediator, Neil Scales OBE, will be submitting his report to government in the coming weeks. We look forward to learning of its findings and recommendations in due course.
The State Government released the Albion Quarter Structure Plan discussion paper and extended the ‘Homes for Families’ program with an additional $16.7m to address homelessness. This was one of Brimbank’s asks ahead of the State Budget. LeadWest also had a good win with $61.2m being allocated for new and improved bus services in Melbourne’s west. This has been the focus of an ongoing LeadWest campaign.
Council continued to advocate for appropriate funding to fix the Calder. We played a lead role in the production of a new advocacy brochure on behalf of nine Councils through which the Calder passes.
The brochure was launched on 20 April 2024 and received significant media coverage that night during the 6pm bulletins of both Channel 7 News and Channel 9 News.
Whilst funding for Calder Freeway improvements has been paused, Council’s allocation under the Federal Government’s ‘Roads to Recovery’ program has significantly increased from $5.66m over the previous five financial years to $9.97m for the five-year period spanning 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2029. Although the total allocated nationally has also risen, Brimbank’s share of the national total has increased by over 30%.
Planning Activity Update and Delegate Decisions including Planning Scheme Amendment Update – May 2024
This report provided Council with an update on:
- The status of Planning Permit Applications in May 2024
- Decisions made under delegated authority in May 2024
- The status of current Planning Scheme Amendments over the same period
In May 2024 Council officers made 67 planning determinations and 30 subdivision determinations under delegation, and 70 new planning permit applications were received. The value of development for these 70 applications is $22.2 million.
At the end of May 2024, four planning appeals were lodged at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) that had not yet been determined. This is nine less than at the end of May 2023.
During May, Council undertook work associated with its decision to abandon Amendment C214 Development Contributions Plan – Schedule 2). Three amendments including Amendments C219brim (Heritage Update), C225brim (Planning Policy Framework) and C227brim (Heritage Overlay Sunshine Silos) are with the Minister for Planning for either authorisation or approval.
Brimbank Planning Scheme Amendment C239brim Housing and Neighborhood Character Strategy
Council has endorsed a report on proposed Amendment C239brim to the Brimbank Planning Scheme to implement the Brimbank Housing and Neighbourhood Character Strategy.
In April 2024, Council adopted the Brimbank Housing and Neighbourhood Character Strategy, which is a comprehensive plan for the municipality’s housing and neighbourhood character. This strategy outlines how Council can meet housing needs over the next 20 years through a framework that provides a broad mix of housing in the most suitable locations.
Amendment C239brim proposes to give limited exhibition under Section 19(1B) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 on the basis that giving individual notice to all the owners and occupiers of residential land in Brimbank is considered impractical. Reasonable steps are proposed to communicate about the amendment including that it is exhibited for six-weeks and promoted through five public notices in the Brimbank Star Weekly. Owners and occupiers of land will be entitled to make submissions in accordance with sections 21 and 21 A of the Act.
Amendment C239brim will only be submitted to the Minister for Planning when Brimbank Planning Scheme Amendment C225brim is approved by the Minister. Amendment C225brim translates the Brimbank Planning Scheme into the new planning scheme format required by the Victorian Government, including a new Municipal Planning Strategy and is currently awaiting the Minister’s consideration for approval.
Subject to the Minister for Planning approving Planning Amendment C225brim, Council will request authorisation from the Minster for Planning to prepare and exhibit the proposed Planning Amendment C239brim under Section 8A of the Planning and Environment Act 1987.
Draft Biodiversity Strategy Review
This report provided Council with an update on two of Council’s key policy documents which guide Council’s conservation activities and its approach to biodiversity. They are both due to be updated.
The Brimbank Biodiversity Strategy 2012-2022 and the Brimbank Habitat Connectivity Plan 2018-2023 have been reviewed with the aim of assessing Council’s success and identifying opportunities in the future.
Analyses showed that Council completed, or completed with adjusted scope, all the actions in the Biodiversity Strategy, and 94 per cent in the Habitat Connectivity Plan.
A new Biodiversity Strategy, which will incorporate the Habitat Connectivity Plan, is in development and a draft will be presented to Council for consideration and released for community consultation.
Submission to Developing a Plan for Victoria
Council has endorsed its Submission to Plan for Victoria, a new plan being prepared by the Victorian Government.
The Victorian Government estimates that by 2050 Victoria will be home to more than 10 million people – eight million forecast to live in Melbourne, and more than two million in regional Victoria.
In response to this growth, it has commenced the preparation of a Plan for Victoria, which will supersede Plan Melbourne adopted by the government in 2017. Plan Melbourne aimed to set out a strategy supporting growth, while building on Melbourne’s legacy of distinctiveness, liveability, and sustainability.
Plan for Victoria will focus on delivering more homes near transport, job opportunities and essential services in vibrant, liveable, and sustainable neighbourhoods.
The Victorian Government conducted engagement with leaders and key decision makers across local government in late 2023, and the second round of public engagement is now underway with feedback sought on key topics including affordable housing, equity, jobs, sustainable environments.
Council’s submission includes 33 recommendations responding to key priorities with a focus on issues including:
- Reaffirming key rail projects critical to the transformation of Brimbank: Melbourne Airport Rail, the Sunshine Super Hub, Keilor East Station and reconstruction of Albion Station
- Identification of Sunshine as a Metropolitan Activity Centre (MEAC) and National Employment and Innovation Cluster and elevation of Sydenham Water gardens to a MEAC
- Improved connectivity including an expanded rapid bus network, upgrading the Calder Freeway, and electrification of the Wyndham Vale and Melton corridor rail lines
- Commitment to the redevelopment of Sunshine Energy Park as a regional open space.
Submissions are due to the Department of Transport and Planning by 30 June 2024, and then further consultation will be undertaken by the Victorian Government between 1 July to 30 August 2024. The new Plan for Victoria is expected to be finalised and released in late 2024.
Final Draft 2024-2026 Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan
Council adopted the final Draft 2024-2026 Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) after seeking public feedback during February 2024.
The Plan aims to foster greater unity and respect between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider Brimbank community. It outlines the steps Council will continue to take towards Reconciliation.
This is Council’s third Reconciliation Action Plan and it has been developed in conjunction with the Traditional Custodians, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, and Brimbank Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultative Committee comprising of local Elders.
The Final Plan articulates Council’s commitment to ensure all of its programs and services are accessible and culturally safe for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Final Draft Sports Facility Hire, Licences and Leases Agreement Policy 2024
Council adopted the final draft Sports Facility Hire, Licences and Leases Agreement Policy 2024 after the review of fees and charges, consideration of submissions and the Victorian State Government Fair Access Policy and Principles Agreement Policy 2024.
This follows a four-week community consultation to invite submissions which was determined at the 19 March 2024 Council Meeting. Council received nine submissions, which reflected strong community support for the draft Sports Facility Hire, Licences and Leases Agreement Policy 2024.
Response to Preliminary Views of Governance Issues at Brimbank City Council
Council endorsed the response to a letter dated 28 May 2024 from the Minister for Local Government Melissa Horne MP regarding preliminary views of governance issues at Brimbank City Council, including its commitment to the 10 Point Plan.
