An update from the most recent Council Meeting that took place on 10 September 2024.
More information is available at 2024 Council Meeting Agendas and Minutes.
Planning Activity Update and Delegate Decisions including Planning Scheme Amendments Update – August 2024
This report provided Council with an update on:
- The status of Planning Permit Applications in August 2024
- Decisions made under delegated authority in August 2024
- The status of current Planning Scheme Amendments over the same period
In August 2024 Council officers made 76 planning determinations and 16 subdivision determinations under delegation, and 56 new planning permit applications were received. The value of development for these 56 applications is $17.4 million.
At the end of August 2024, four planning appeals were lodged at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) that had not yet been determined. This is two less than at the end of August 2023.
On 22 August, Council was advised that Amendment C227brim, which places a Heritage Overlay on the Sunshine Silos, had been approved by the Minister for Planning, but it would not be effective until it was gazetted. Council also received a request for further information about Amendment C239brim, which seeks to implement the Housing and Neighbourhood Character Strategy.
Climate Emergency Report Card
Council’s Climate Emergency Plan is in its fourth year. This year’s annual Climate Emergency Report Card for the financial year of 2023/2024 shows highlights including:
- The full degasification of Sunshine West Community Hub
- Delivery of the Renew Expert Webinar Series as a collaboration with the Western Alliance of Greenhouse Action
- More than 88,000 trees, shrubs, wildflowers and groundcover plants planted by Council across the municipality
- Installation of Resource Recovery Hubs in four community facilities for recycling.
Key challenges include:
- Getting off gas
- Council fleet transition to electric vehicles
- Net zero community emissions by 2040
- Adaptation to the effects of climate change
- Reducing waste to landfill.
The report card will be available for the community to view on Council’s website brimbank.vic.gov.au and the past three report cards can also be found on this website.
The Climate Emergency Plan 2020-2025 review is due to be presented to Council in mid-2025, and this will detail the outcomes of each individual action as outlined in the Brimbank Climate Emergency Plan.
Financial Statements 2023-2024 and Performance Statement 2023-2024
Council noted and approved, in principle, the Financial Statements 2023-2024 and Performance Statement 2023-2024, prior to forwarding the statements to the Victorian Auditor-General.
The Local Government Act 2020 requires Council to submit the Financial Statements 2023-2024 and Performance Statement 2023-2024 for auditing, to the Auditor appointed by the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO), as soon as practicable after the end of the financial year.
The Financial Statements are a general-purpose financial report that consist of a Comprehensive Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Statement of Changes in Equity, Statement of Cash Flows, Statement of Capital Works, and accompanying notes.
The Performance Statement contains the relevant performance indicators, measures and results in relation to service performance, financial performance and sustainable capacity.
The Financial Statements and Performance Statement have been prepared in accordance with all necessary authorities, Acts and Regulations.
Governance Report September 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:
- Endorsed Council’s updated S6 Instrument of Delegation from Council to members of Council staff and agreed that it come into force and be signed by the Council’s Chief Executive Officer
- Noted the tabling of the Annual Audit and Risk Committee Activity Report for 2023-2024.
Advocacy Report – September 2024
Council noted the Advocacy Report, which outlines Brimbank’s advocacy highlights over the past three months.
In addition to Council’s delegation to Canberra in July and the endorsement of our Federal Election advocacy brochure, both outlined at the August 2024 Council meeting, this report provided an update on the latest developments relating to the Melbourne Airport Rail project and the Sunshine Precinct.
The report also referenced Council’s successful advocacy for the introduction of a mental health social inclusion action group in Brimbank and the LeadWest roundtable with the Victorian Treasurer, Tim Pallas.
Annual Report Cards – Sports Facility Development Plan and Community Services and Infrastructure Plan
The Sports Facility Development Plan 2023 and Community Services and Infrastructure Plan 2018-2038 Report card show progress against the:
- Sports Facilities Development Plan 2023 (SFDP)
- Community Services and Infrastructure Plan 2018-2038 (CSIP)
Highlights of the SFDP implementation included:
- Significant capital investment of more than $8.5m into upgrading and providing new sports facilities including pavilions, sports ground lighting, female friendly change rooms and sports ground infrastructure
- $100,000 of external funding secured from Sport and Recreation Victoria for the upgrade of lighting at Lionheart Reserve
Highlights of the CSIP implementation included:
- Capital investment of more than $1.5m into upgrading community facilities including kitchen, flooring, toilet, storage, heating/cooling, fencing, acoustic, access and lighting upgrades
Council has implemented many recommendations from the SFDP, and CSIP during the 2023/2024 financial year, resulting in significant capital investment into community sports facilities, extensive planning for future facilities and improvements in the management and delivery of both facilities, services and programs to the Brimbank community. For more details read the Report Card on Council’s website brimbank.vic.gov.au
Annual Community Report Cards for Community Learning and Participation
Council noted five annual report cards that list key achievements and milestones, in the Community Learning and Participation area for 2023-2024.
The following report cards keep the community informed about progress made towards implementing the following Council’s policies, strategies and action plans that contribute to a healthy, safe and inclusive community:
- Library Strategy 2020-2025
- Neighbourhood Houses and Community Centre Strategy 2019-2024
- Cultural Strategy 2024-2028
- Festival and Events Policy and Strategy 2022-2025
- Brimbank Lifelong Learning Strategy 2024-2029
- Brimbank Youth Jobs Strategy 2018-2029
Annual Report Cards – Community Strengthening and Social Planning Combined Community
Council noted 11 annual report cards that list key achievements, milestones, and collaborations undertaken, to keep the community informed about progress made towards implementing the following strategies, policies and plans that contribute to a healthy, safe and inclusive community:
- Diversity and Inclusion – Settlement Action Plan 2024
- Children Strategy 2023-2024
- Disability Action Plan 2022-2026
- Electronic Gambling Policy 2023-2024
- Fairness, Equality and Respect Strategy 2023-2024
- Homelessness Implementation Plan 2022-2024
- Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2019-2021 (extended)
- LGBTQIA Action Plan 2023-2024
- Mental Wellbeing Plan 2023-2024
- Safe and Inclusive Brimbank Strategy 2023-2024
- Volunteer Strategy 2023-2024.
These strategies and plans have helped Council meet the community’s priorities in the 2023-2024 period.
