The Brimbank community will benefit from more than $316 million in committed investment across infrastructure, environment, and essential services since July last year, as part of Council’s advocacy and investment to support COVID-19 recovery.
As one of the areas hardest hit by the impact of COVID-19, Brimbank’s recovery depends on all levels of government providing support.
This includes $82.7 million in Council’s 2021/22 Annual Budget for:
- sports facilities
- the Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre in Keilor Downs
- roads and footpaths
- playgrounds
- parks and gardens, and
- bike and shared paths.
Last year, Council delivered $74.6 million capital works to respond to COVID-19 and this year’s program will continue to build and improve our city’s assets.
In May this year Council celebrated a $50 million commitment from the State Government towards upgrading the Calder Freeway between Sunbury and the M80, unveiled in the State’s 2021/22 Budget announcement.
The State Budget also included $1.084 million for new sports facilities at Bon Thomas Reserve in Deer Park, and $5 million for the ‘More Trees for a Cooler, Greener Melbourne’s West’ initiative. It also included $9.4 million towards drug and alcohol residential rehabilitation services, including Sunshine’s Westside Lodge.
These investments build on a further $103.3 million in State and Federal funding for Brimbank advocacy priorities, announced since August last year. This included $40.9 million for businesses impacted by COVID-19, and $8 million for Council to employ 130 people under Working for Victoria, to improve parks, support COVID-safety, the arts, community care, environment, and more.