An update from the most recent Council Meeting that took place on 19 March 2024.
More information is available at 2024 Council Meeting Agendas and Minutes.
Planning Activity Update and Delegate Decisions including Planning Scheme Amendment Update – February 2024
This report provided Council with an update on:
- The status of Planning Permit Applications in February 2024
- Decisions made under delegated authority in February 2024 regarding planning permit applications
- The status of current Planning Scheme Amendments over the same period.
In February 2024 Council made 60 planning determinations, 28 subdivision determinations, and 46 new planning permit applications were received. The value of development for these 46 applications is $17.3 million.
At the end of February 2024, six appeals were lodged at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) that had not yet been determined. This is three less than at the end of February 2023.
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 C214brim – Development Contributions Plan Overlay
Brimbank Council will not go ahead with a proposed levy for new developments to contribute a proportionate amount to the cost of new, upgraded or replacement community infrastructure.
Brimbank Council already has two existing levies as part of the Sunshine Town Centre Development Contribution Plan (DCP), and the Brimbank DCP 2016. The proposed Brimbank Planning Scheme Amendment C214brim would have include an additional 48 community infrastructure projects that had not been identified when the previous DCPs were prepared.
Several factors contributed to Council’s decision to abandon Amendment C214brim. This includes strategic and financial risks associated with the amendment, including a greater need for flexibility for projects, increasing financial liabilities, and the uncertainty associated with DCPs in general.
Council will now notify the Planning Minister about its decision to abandon Amendment C214brim. It will write to all those who made submissions about Amendment C214brim, which had been exhibited to the public from 10 August to 3 November 2023.
Consideration of the Proposed Sale of (part) Durham Road Car Park for the development of a Cultural Museum
Following the December Council Meeting, Council has undertaken the statutory procedures required by section 114 of the Local Government Act 2020 in respect of the proposal to sell part of the land known as Durham Road Car Park in Sunshine, directly to the Vietnamese Museum Australia Ltd for the purposes of operating a nationally significant cultural museum.
Having considered all submissions received, Council resolves to proceed with the proposal to sell the approximate 1,000 square metre parcel within the land known as Durham Road Car Park in Sunshine directly to the Vietnamese Museum Australia Ltd.
In addition, Council reserves the open space at the eastern end of the Durham Road Car Park for the development of a ‘Welcome Plaza’ which will celebrate all refugee and multicultural communities that call Brimbank home.
Council resolved to write to the Minister for Transport Infrastructure, the Hon. Danny Pearson, to request that the State Government:
- make the commuter car parks in Sunshine CBD legally available to the non-commuter public after 6pm on weeknights and all day on weekends,
- expedite the funding and delivery of the proposed ‘Spurline’ project, as identified in the Sunshine Station Masterplan, to create a new pedestrian link connecting the southern village precinct and the Durham Road site with the Sunshine CBD north of the railway, and,
- consolidate and appropriately relocate the existing bus stops within Durham Road and Sun Crescent, Sunshine, to create a new car park access point for the Durham Road Car Park and seek to facilitate the creation of any additional on-street car spaces.
Council will write to all submitters on the proposal to thank them for their submissions and advise them Council’s decision. Similarly, Council will write to relevant project stakeholders to advise them of Council’s decision to sell Council land directly to the Vietnamese Museum Australia Ltd.
Former Sunshine Technical School – Submission to Heritage Council of Victoria
Brimbank Council’s efforts to add the former Sunshine Technical School to the Victorian Heritage Register continues, despite a recent obstacle.
Council lodged the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) application in September 2021 to ensure this architecturally and historically significant building was protected. This was after it learnt of plans to demolish vacant buildings on the site in January 2020. The site, in Derby Road, Sunshine, is owned by the Department of Education and Training.
Council recently received advice that an assessment was completed, and the Executive Director of the Heritage Council of Victoria recommended it not be included on the VHR.
Council has made a submission with the Heritage Council of Victoria and requested to present to a hearing about this recommendation.
At its March Council Meeting, Council also endorsed a recommendation to write to the Victorian Government seeking confirmation that the appropriate systems and procedures were in place to ensure the heritage buildings at the former technical school are protected from vandalism and damage while the buildings are vacant.
It will also request that the unused site is turned into a co-working arts hub as an interim use of the heritage buildings.
Keilor Sports Club Social Room Extension
Council is committed to working with the Keilor Sports Club to deliver the already committed funded program of upgrades to the kitchen and toilets at Keilor Sports Club and notes that the Keilor Sports Club have invested significant time and effort to develop the proposal and have secured external funding towards the project.
The report notes that the approach proposed by the Keilor Sports Club is inconsistent with the approach generally taken to develop Council assets and that the proposed expansion of the Keilor Sports Club Social Club, whilst expanding the social space and improving the facilities at the Keilor Sports Club social club rooms, does not align with priority projects within Council’s adopted Sports Facility Development Plan (SFDP) 2023.
In addition to the $150,000 in Council’s 2023/2024 budget for the upgrade of the Keilor Sports Club kitchen as identified in the Sports Facility Development Plan, the State Government has allocated $700,000 for the upgrade of the kitchen and toilets at Keilor Sports Club.
However, without an accurate project cost estimate, Council is unable to determine if the Keilor Club can afford to deliver the project within their proposed $2.65M budget and notes the significant risk to Council if the Keilor Sports Club are unable to complete the project and unfinished works to a Council asset may require Council to fund and complete the works to ensure safety and amenity of the site.
Council requested that an update be presented to the April Council Meeting to allow for further consultation with Keilor Sports Club and exploration of the legal options in relation to guarantors for the project.
Draft Sports Facility Hire, Licences and Leases Agreement Policy
The Sports Facilities Hire, Licences and Agreements Policy is used in the ongoing allocation and management of Council owned and/or managed sportsgrounds, courts, active playing areas and sporting pavilions by sports clubs.
Council endorsed the draft Policy updates which have been directed and informed by a number of factors, including Fair Access principles to encourage increasing opportunities for women and girls, the need to meet the need to meet the Fair Access Policy and Principles Roadmap Targets from the Office of Women in Sport, to be eligible for future funding from Sport and Recreation Victoria. The updates align with the Brimbank Community Vision, Council Plan and Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan, Social Justice Charter and Fairness, Equality and Resect Strategy.
Council resolved to consult with the community and will consider all feedback and any proposed changes in its final consideration of the final draft Policy 2024.
Draft Arts and Culture Strategy
Council endorsed the draft Arts and Culture Strategy 2024-2028 for community consultation at the 19 March Council Meeting.
The strategy outlines how Council will support the Brimbank community to celebrate, reflect, innovate, learn, challenge and explore who we are and how we live through the full spectrum of creative forms of expression.
The consultation period is open until 16 April. Visit yoursay.brimbank.vic.gov.au for more information.
Sydenham Park Sports Feasibility Final Report
Council noted the Sydenham Park Sports Feasibility Study and resolved not to proceed with further planning for sports facilities, instead to progress negotiations with the State Government for the allocation of $500K funding towards the development facilities at Sydenham Park and to refer the site to the upcoming Creating Better Parks Open Space and Playground Policy and Plan update to determine the most suitable use of the site in the future.
Reasons outlined include a misalignment with Council’s Sports Facility Development Plan; the negative impacts on native vegetation and cultural heritage; and the estimated high project cost which is not included in the 10-year Capital Works Program or Long-Term Financial Plan and relatively poor value for money represented by this project.
Council noted the increasing budgetary constraints due to rate capping, a growing asset base and increasing asset renewal obligations, competing priorities for funding and broader financial challenges and an ambitious agenda for delivering assets that support community participation and broader wellbeing.
Final Draft Renaming Sydenham Park
Council endorsed ‘Yaluk barring Park’ as the preferred new name for Sydenham Park.
The outcome of the community consultation process on Sydenham Park renaming was noted and included 164 responses from community members with a majority of 64.4% support for the Woi-wurrung name ‘Yaluk barring Park’.
Council will write to the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation advising them of Council’s decision and thanking them for their involvement and collaboration with Council on the renaming process; including the proposal of names for the park that hold significance to the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people.
Council will provide written response to consultation participants and lodge the new name proposal to Geographic Names Victoria (GNV). Following name change confirmation from GNV, Council will proceed with information to the community and signage changes.
This renaming of Sydenham Park follows a Notice of Motion at the July 2022 Council Meeting to change the park’s name to an appropriate Aboriginal name suggested by local Aboriginal people.
Governance Report March 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 and records of informal meetings of Councillors.
In addition, Council also:
- Noted Councillor Declarations of Representations by Members of Parliament
- Noted Councillor Support Expenses for Quarters 1 and 2 of the 2023/2024 financial year
- Appointed Councillor Sam David as substitute representative to the Heritage Advisory Committee, Councillors Jasmine Nguyen and Victoria Borg as substitute representative to the Economic and Employment Advisory Group, and Councillor Thuy Dang as substitute for the Western Melbourne Tourism Committee for the remainder of the Council term.
- Noted the proposed addition of the Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre rear car park extension project, to the 2023/2024 capital works project. This will involve construction of 78 car park spaces as an addition to the existing car park area, to meet existing demand and provide improved accessibility to this well used Council facility.
Advocacy Report
Council noted the major advocacy highlights and endorsed the priorities and related motions for the upcoming Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) State Council Meeting and the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) National General Assembly.
In the period from December 2023 to March 2024, advocacy highlights included:
- An escalation of the Fix the Calder campaign following a decision by the Federal Government to axe funding as an outcome of the Infrastructure Investment Review.
- Announcement of a Senate Inquiry into Aircraft Noise.
- Two successful grant applications for funding to protect Brimbank’s waterways and wildlife.
- New bus services to assist students in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
- A visit to Brimbank by Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon Chris Bowen.
- The Australian Government’s decision to provide $73m to extend funding for the Equal Remuneration supplementation for homelessness services for a further 12 months.
- Four Mayoral meetings with local MPs to raise identified priorities in the Advocacy Plan 2023-25, particularly the construction of the Melbourne Airport Rail.
- Promotion of funding priorities for State and Federal Government 2024/25 Budgets.
The Advocacy Report also outlined several motions to be presented to the MAV State Council Meeting to be held in May and the ALGA General Assembly to be held in July. The motions to be presented are:
MAV State Council Meeting
- Upgrades to major highways
- Mental Health Social Inclusion Action Plan
- Improving Victoria’s Bus Network
ALGA National General Assembly
- Upgrades to Major Highways
- Unemployment support
Green Gully Reserve Northern Precinct Enhancement Plan Project Update
Council deferred this report to be considered at a future meeting.
