An update from the most recent Council Meeting that took place on 20 May 2025.
More information is available at 2025 Council Meeting Agendas and Minutes.
Planning Activity Update and Delegate Decisions including Planning Scheme Amendment Update
This report provided Council with an update on:
- The status of Planning Permit Applications in April 2025,
- Decisions made under delegated authority in April 2025 and
- The status of current Planning Scheme Amendments over the same period.
In April 2025 Council officers made 61 planning determinations and 13 subdivision determinations under delegation, and 55 new planning permit applications were received. The value of development for these 55 applications is $293.04 million.
At the end of April 2025, three planning appeals were lodged at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) that had not yet been determined. This is one less than at the end of April 2024.
There are currently two planning scheme amendments where Council is awaiting a decision by the Minister for Planning, including Amendment C219brim (Heritage Update) and Amendment C239brim (Housing and Neighbourhood Character Strategy), which were submitted for authorisation on 20 December 2022 and 19 July 2024 respectively.
Draft Visitor Economy Strategy
Council endorsed a new plan to bring more visitors to Brimbank to be released for community feedback.
The draft Brimbank Visitor Economy Strategy 2025–2029 aims to increase visitor numbers to Brimbank, support businesses, tourism, attract new businesses, boost the local economy, and celebrate our community.
Council has spoken to residents, tourist operators, retailers, and other businesses to get their insights about how to attract more visitors to Brimbank. More than 360 people responded to a survey and helped Council come up with six key ideas to help achieve the draft strategy’s objectives. These are:
- Develop a destination brand – a marketing brand that highlights why Brimbank is a great place to visit.
- Support the current visitor offer – nurture existing visitor attractions and help increase their profiles by marketing Brimbank as a visitor destination.
- Establish new visitor offers – help attract new tourism operators and visitor attractions to Brimbank.
- Elevate festivals and events – draw on the popularity of community festivals and events to help attract more visitors.
- Plan for future transport improvements – ensure Brimbank gains maximum benefits from projects like the Melbourne Airport Rail and Suburban Rail Loop.
- Build local support and champions – celebrate and promote one of our greatest assets – our diverse community.
Consultation on the draft Brimbank Visitor Economy Strategy 2025–2029 runs from 26 May to 30 June. Visit yoursay.brimbank.vic.gov.au for more information.
Q3 Quarter 3 Budget Report (Jan/Feb/Mar 2025)
Council noted the Quarterly Budget Report and accompanying statements for the period ending 31 March 2025.
This included an analysis of the year-to-date Operating and Cash results, and Operating and Cash Flow forecasts to the financial year ending 30 June 2025.
This quarterly report is a requirement under the Local Government Act 2020, and has been prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards.
Quarterly reports are designed to identify major variances against the budget approved by Council on 18 June 2024. It demonstrates our commitment to the principles of sound financial management in a sustainable and responsible manner.
Governance Report May 2025
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 Victorian Electoral Commission’s 2024 Local Government Election Report for Brimbank City Council.
Council Plan Action Plan Year Four, 3rd Quarter Progress Report
Council noted the progress on the ‘Together we are Brimbank’ Council Plan Action Plan (2021-2025) and Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan for Year Four, Quarter Three from January-March 2025.
The quarterly report provides information about the progress of the Council Plan Action Plan with service highlights aligned to each Strategic Direction.
As of 31 March 2025, the status of the 81 actions in the Council Plan Annual Action Plan are as follows:
- 10% (8) actions are completed.
- 90% (73) actions are in progress.
The following actions are completed:
- Advocate to the State Government to allocate funding for local government Social Inclusion Action Groups (People and Community).
- Deliver a Community Events program.
- Commence design work on the Dempster Park Children’s and Community Centre.
- Continue implementation of Council’s Urban Forest Strategy through street tree planting in Kings Park, Deer Park, and St Albans.
- Deliver the climate emergency stream of the Brimbank Community Grants Program to help the community respond to climate change.
- Partner with the Victorian Electoral Commission in respect to Local Government elections in compliance with the Local Government Act 2020 (the Act).
- Develop and implement a comprehensive Councillor transition program designed to equip the incoming Council with the necessary support and resources for effective governance.
- Commence the business case for the Connected Brimbank initiative. This will consider Council’s long term information system needs in supporting customer service, information security and operational excellence and compliance obligations.
