Transforming Brimbank

22

Mental health

26

Pathways to employment

30

Road infrastructure

34

Local business support

38

Climate emergency

42

Business as usual

46

03

Brimbank is a vibrant and diverse community in Melbourne’s

west, home to almost 210,000 people. Our suburbs are as

diverse as our people — from the hustle and bustle of Sunshine

and St Albans, to historic Keilor, each has its own personality.

Brimbank’s strategic position as the heart of Melbourne’s west

has been cemented with major infrastructure commitments

that continue to transform the region.

We are a proud community, and we have a strong sense

of fairness. That’s why we are calling for state and federal

funding to address chronic and systemic issues our city faces.

Brimbank is the third most disadvantaged community in

Victoria and we have one of the highest youth unemployment

rates. Add to this higher than average rates of chronic illness,

and being one of the local government areas in Australia

with the most COVID deaths and it is clear, there is an urgent

need for change.

Despite these significant challenges, Brimbank is a city

and community with enormous untapped potential.

Through targeted investment we can address these issues

and improve the lives and livelihoods of current and future

generations of Brimbank residents.

The Victorian and Commonwealth Governments have

committed up to $10 billion to deliver the Melbourne Airport

Rail, which will run from Melbourne Airport to the central

business district (CBD) via Sunshine. The construction of the

Melbourne Airport Rail via Sunshine provides a transformative

opportunity to unlock the limitless potential of Melbourne’s

west. This once-in-a-generation investment provides the

opportunity to address key social challenges, by delivering

fair outcomes for locals.

COVID-19 has greatly impacted residents’ mental wellbeing,

particularly those affected by unemployment or with limited

access to income support. Income and employment are

key determinants of health and wellbeing, impacting housing,

education, diet, mental wellbeing, and social inclusion and

connectedness. Brimbank City Council will increase its focus

on improving mental wellbeing for young people, newly

arrived migrants and women.

In addition, we will focus on decreasing systemic

barriers to employment as well as supporting our local

businesses to not only survive, but to thrive.

Council’s advocacy efforts also focus on the need to

upgrade roads such as the Calder Freeway, Taylors Road and

Sydenham Road. This is an essential step towards delivering

safer road connections and providing better transport access

for commuters and residents in Brimbank.

Climate change is an immediate and real threat to our

community. This is why Council declared a climate emergency

and will continue to strive for environmental justice for

the west.

We further recognise that additional aircraft noise

following the construction of a third runway at Melbourne

Airport will have a significant effect on local communities.

Council is engaging with the Australian Government and

representatives of Melbourne Airport to fully understand the

impacts and consider measures to mitigate noise and other

negative effects.

During our term of office, we expect to see change

in the way we deliver services and prepare for the future,

as we consider health, equity, energy infrastructure and

the natural environment. As we look to the future, we will

continue to work together to build a resilient community

where our people are supported to succeed. The result will

be a community that is proud, welcoming and prosperous.

Mayor, Brimbank City Council

MELBOURNE AIRPORT

10 MINS

TO MELBOURNE CBD

10 MINS

COBBLEBANK

WERRIBEE

SUNSHINE

FOOTSCRAY

05

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an immense impact on the area. These impacts

include not only the health of residents but socio-economic challenges with

employment, skills and community wellbeing.

208,247

Population

16.22%

Population change

2021–2041

86,714

Local jobs

91,978

Employed residents

$10.58B

Industry Gross

Regional Product (GDP)

Victoria

07

This document was developed to

align with the themes and objectives

of the Together we are Brimbank Plan,

which incorporates the 2021–2025

Council Plan, the Community Vision

2040 and the Municipal Public

Health and Wellbeing Plan. These

plans were all produced following

significant community consultation

and input. The Advocacy Framework,

developed in 2017, was also taken into

consideration. The advocacy priorities

outlined in this document will work in

conjunction with the Together we are

Brimbank Plan to create a transformed

Brimbank that is beautiful, thriving,

healthy and connected.

The Plan is supported by four

strategic directions:

•

—

Council will continue to support

the mental and physical wellbeing

of our community, and help people

to come together by sharing their

rich diversity.

•

—

Our community strongly values

neighbourhoods that are green,

where they can connect with others

and access facilities and services.

•

—

Major infrastructure development has

the potential to bring lasting positive

change to our community. Council

recognises the need to leverage this

development to achieve a vision that

will deliver increased jobs, housing

and liveability for our community.

•

—

Decisions and the vision of Council

will be delivered through quality

and innovative services that are

based on the diverse needs of our

community. This strategic decision

focuses on creating a fairer place

for all.

The Brimbank Advocacy Framework

provides a structure to support

the setting of advocacy priorities.

The framework outlines the role

of Council and community in relation

to advocacy, and the approach to

prioritising issues and determining

the most appropriate approach.

The following principles are applied

when assessing advocacy priorities:

•

— All forms

of advocacy should be supported

by accepted evidence in line

with Council’s plans, policies and

strategic directions.

•

— All forms of

advocacy should be framed

positively and, where appropriate,

propose constructive solutions or

genuine approaches to address

issues of concern.

•

— Wherever possible,

Council will consult with or partner

with relevant organisations or groups

when developing, supporting or

delivering advocacy initiatives.

•

— Advocacy messages and

approaches must align with Council’s

key strategies, plans and policies.

08

1 St Albans East Primary School

$7.9m

State Gov

2 Sunshine Primary School

$11.16m

State Gov

3 Monmia Primary School, Keilor Downs

$6.9m

State Gov

4 Taylors Lakes Primary School

$7.526m

State Gov

5 Taylors Lakes Secondary College

$1.82m

State Gov

6 Furlong Park School for Deaf Children

$9.4m

State Gov

7 Sunshine Special Developmental School

$10.0m

State Gov

8 Jackson School, St Albans

$10.0m

State Gov

9 CCTV installation in Sunshine City Centre

$500,000

State Gov

10 Funding contribution to the Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre

$3.5m

State ($2m) and

Federal Gov ($1.5m)

11 Northumberland Road Activity Centre upgrade, Sunshine North

$100,000

State Gov

12 Pedestrian and road safety improvements at Northumberland Road

Activity Centre, Sunshine North

$100,000

State Gov

13 Deer Park West Kindergarten extension

$750,000

State Gov

14 Westside Lodge mental health services upgrade

$9.4m

State Gov

15 Sydenham Park upgrades

$300,000

State Gov

16 Calder Freeway road safety improvements

$100m

State ($50m) and

Federal Gov ($50m)

17 Calder Park Drive level crossing removal

*

State Gov

18 Sunshine Avenue roundabout installation at Old Calder Highway and Melton Highway

$16.86m

State Gov

19 Ballarat Road and Hulett Street intersection traffic lights, Albion

$8m

State and Federal Gov

20 Green Gully Road and Arundel Road traffic lights and street lighting, Keilor

$2m

State Gov

21 Bon Thomas Reserve upgrade

$1.084m

State Gov

22 Errington Reserve upgrade

$250,000

State Gov

23 Delahey Reserve upgrade

$375,000

State Gov

24 Keilor Park sports ground lighting upgrade

$250,000

State Gov

25 Deer Park Bocce Social Club indoor courts and lighting upgrade

$200,000

State Gov

26 Sydenham Park improvements

$300,000

State Gov

27 More Park redevelopment

$4m

State Gov

28 Upper Stony Creek and Dempster Park

$950,000

State Gov

29 Keilor Park female friendly change rooms

$500,000

State Gov

30 Cary Street Pocket Park

$1.12m

State Gov

31 Leslie Street Pocket Park

$1.147m

State Gov

32 Kevin Flint Memorial Reserve new off-leash dog park

$275,000

State Gov

33 Sunshine West Pocket Park

$400,000

State Gov

34 Fitzgerald Road level crossing removal, Ardeer

**

State Gov

35 Mt Derrimut Road level crossing removal, Deer Park

**

State Gov

36 Robinsons Road level crossing removal, Deer Park

**

State Gov

37 Main Road level crossing removal, St Albans

**

State Gov

38 Furlong Road level crossing removal, St Albans

**

State Gov

39 Melton Highway level crossing removal, Sydenham

**

State Gov

40 Working for Victoria

$8m

State Gov

41 Greening the West

$800,000

State Gov

42 Redevelopment of the Sunshine Law Courts and Justice Precinct

$25m

State Gov

43 Local COVID-19 Multicultural Taskforce — Brimbank response

$350,000

State Gov

44 Melbourne Airport Rail

$10b

State and Federal Gov

45 Mitchell Institute at Victoria University, Pathways in Place program

$5.5m

Paul Ramsay Foundation

46 Local Roads and Infrastructure Program

$7.394m

Federal Gov

47 Jobs Victoria Advocates Project

$660,000

State Gov

48 Local Council Outdoor Eating and Entertainment grant

$500,000

State Gov

49 Kings Road/Calder Freeway interchange to Sydenham Park shared user path

$300,000

State Gov

50 Keilor Park Recreation Reserve upgrade

$300,000

State Gov

51 Glengala Road Sunshine Activity Centre improvements

$135,000

State Gov

52 Keilor Library outdoor learning lounge

$100,000

State Gov

53 Support for St Albans Business Association

$50,000

State Gov

54 Support for Sunshine Business Association

$50,000

State Gov

55 Libraries After Dark Program

$64,000

State Gov

**These projects have been funded by the State Government and represent hundreds of millions of dollars in investment.

**This list includes level crossings currently under construction that were funded in an earlier budget. Not all projects are on this map, it is intended

only to highlight major projects in Brimbank.

10

Brimbank has a unique opportunity

to break the cycle of inter-generational

unemployment and disadvantage

by maximising the benefits of major

infrastructure projects. These include

the Sunshine Super Hub, Metro tunnel,

Melbourne Airport Rail, Suburban Rail

Loop, the Western Rail Plan and level

crossing removals. Such investments

will deliver substantial economic,

environmental and social benefits that

will present enormous employment

opportunities for the Brimbank

community as well as the wider

western region.

Sunshine is the only location in

Melbourne that the State Government

has declared a Metropolitan Activity

Centre, a National Employment and

Innovation Centre (NEIC), a Priority

Precinct and a Transport Super Hub.

The State Government has appointed

Department of Transport officials to

lead the precinct planning for Sunshine,

and has now released its Precinct

Opportunity Statement for the Sunshine

Precinct, which states that, ‘Sunshine

will be the centre of Melbourne’s

booming west’ and outlines an aspiration

for an additional 29,000 jobs and

43,000 new residents.

Since the release of Brimbank’s

2019 Advocacy Plan:

ü

Council adopted the Brimbank

Response Strategy (Western Rail

Plan, including Melbourne Airport

Rail Link and Sunshine Super

Hub) in June 2019.

ü

Sunshine was declared as a State

Priority Precinct in February 2020

via the Plan Melbourne Addendum.

ü

Council has completed extensive

community engagement through

the Building Brimbank Community

Vision in May 2020.

ü

Council launched the Sunshine

Priority Precinct 2050 Vision

document in April 2021.

ü

The Government has established

a Sunshine Transport Precinct

Community Reference Group

with the intent to inform planning

and developments and better

understand how we can achieve

the best outcomes for the Sunshine

Transport Precinct. Council has

since been allocated two seats on

the Community Reference Group.

ü

The State Government released

the Sunshine Precinct Opportunity

Statement in November 2021.

This outlined the vision that

Sunshine will be the centre of

Melbourne’s west and a precinct

that would involve significant

residential and retail development

which will see a real economic

boom in the area.

ü

Council has completed construction

of the Hampshire Road Civic Green

and the restoration of MB Lynch

Memorial Gardens, creating much

needed green spaces in the centre

of Sunshine, completing a $13 million

upgrade of Hampshire Road.

ü

Council received $2.7 million

from the State Government for

new active transport links in the

Sunshine Precinct.

The Melbourne Airport Rail

(MAR) project is a $10 billion joint

Commonwealth and Victorian

Government transport infrastructure

project which was announced in 2018.

Construction is scheduled to begin

this year and will be completed in

2029. Sunshine’s location as a major

interchange on the metro and regional

rail network means that the MAR has

the potential to transform Sunshine

Station into a social and economic

superhub that can lead to Brimbank

becoming the powerhouse

of Melbourne’s west.

Since the release of Brimbank’s

2019 Advocacy Plan:

ü

State and Federal Governments

announced first concepts of MAR

which include the construction

of the Albion flyover in March 2021.

ü

Council launched the ‘Let’s Build

it Better, Together’ campaign in

October 2021.

ü

The State Government announced

a draft Sunshine Station Master

Plan, which proposes to look at

requirements for future investment

and opportunities around Sunshine

Station, beyond the MAR.

The Western Rail Plan (WRP)

was announced in October 2018 and

included key priority planning for

the full separation of regional and

metro services on the Geelong and

Ballarat Lines. The WRP proposed

two electrified metro lines to Melton

and Wyndham Vale with possible new

stations, additional tracks between

Sunshine and the CBD to run extra

services, and a fast rail to Geelong

and Ballarat including the potential full

electrification of these lines.

Since the release of Brimbank’s

2019 Advocacy Plan:

ü

$16.8 million was provided

through the delivery of the WRP

to upgrade two intersections

along the Melton Highway.

ü

In November 2020, the Treasurer

of Victoria confirmed that electric

trains will run to Wyndham Vale

‘within five to ten years’.

ü

In the 2021–2022 State Budget,

$94 million was committed to

increase capacity on the Melton

and Wyndham Vale corridors.

ü

Works have begun to remove

three level crossings in Deer Park

and Ardeer, while an announcement

was made in July 2021 to remove a

further level crossing on Calder Park

Drive. These projects will significantly

improve the safety and connectivity

of our road and rail networks,

reducing congestion and get people

to their destinations faster.

The Calder Freeway provides the

primary road connection between

Melbourne and Bendigo and is a

vital transport corridor for our local

community. The Freeway has been

identified as one of Victoria’s most

dangerous roads. Between 2015 and

2019, there were 81 crashes and 100

people injured. In April 2021, Council

launched the Fix the Calder campaign,

seeking immediate and urgent

upgrades along the Calder Freeway

corridor between the interchange

of the Western Ring Road and Gap

Road in Sunbury. The campaign seeks

significant investments into upgrading

this dangerous stretch of road.

Since the release of Brimbank’s

2019 Advocacy Plan:

ü

$100 million has been committed

to upgrading the Calder Freeway,

$50 million from the Federal

Government and $50 million from

the State Government.

ü

A business case is currently

being prepared for a new freeway

interchange at Calder Park Drive

over the Calder Freeway, due to be

submitted to the State Government

by the middle of this year. This is

being funded, in part, under the

current $100 million commitment

to upgrade the Freeway and is also

considering the merits of duplicating

the Calder Park Drive corridor

between Melton Highway and the

Calder Freeway.

ü

The Victorian Government

announced it will be removing the

level crossing at Calder Park Drive

in July 2021, by proposing a road

bridge over the existing Sunbury

rail line.

12

The suburb of St Albans experiences

higher levels of social disadvantage

and poorer health indicators compared

to the rest of Brimbank and Greater

Melbourne. The critical need for

revitalised health and wellbeing

services in the St Albans community

has resulted in a new strategically

positioned centre.

The new Brimbank Aquatic and

Wellness Centre (BAWC) will replace

the current St Albans Leisure Centre,

with an estimated cost of more than

$60 million. The facility will be a much

needed, integrated centre for wellbeing

and healthy living, improving outcomes

across the pillars of jobs, health,

education, wellbeing and fairness.

The facility will consist of two water

slides, a 50 metre ten lane competition

pool, leisure water/Learn to Swim

Program pool, sauna and steam room,

24 hour access gym, group fitness

studios, meeting and function rooms,

a wellness centre and a community

program room. Construction is

expected to be completed in mid-2022.

Since the release of Brimbank’s

2019 Advocacy Plan:

ü

$2 million has been committed

by the State Government under the

Local Sports Infrastructure Fund.

ü

$1.53 million has been committed

by the Australian Government

towards an integrated renewable

energy system under the Australian

Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

This will make BAWC the first

all-electric aquatic centre in

Australia, cutting energy use by

almost 80 per cent. The project

offers the opportunity to

demonstrate a pathway to using

commercially viable renewable

energy and energy efficient

technologies to achieve a carbon

neutral facility that other localities

throughout Australia can learn

from and adopt.

Council’s advocacy platform,

Transforming Brimbank —

Environmental Agenda, acknowledges

that our community has long bore

the brunt of Victoria’s industrial,

waste storage and transport needs.

Our recompense should be significant

Federal and State Government

investments in Brimbank’s sustainability

and environment.

Since the release of Brimbank’s

2019 Advocacy Plan, Brimbank has

achieved the following funding and

policy outcomes:

ü

Council created the Brimbank

Climate Emergency Plan

2020–2025. This Plan outlines

Council’s declaration of a climate

emergency and the necessary

action to consider the social,

environmental and economic

sustainability of the municipality,

to reduce greenhouse gas

emissions, and to plan for

climate change risks.

ü

Council has committed that

our operations target zero net

emissions by 2030. For the

Brimbank municipality, we will

target zero net emissions by

2040, with an interim aspirational

target of a 70 per cent reduction

by 2030.

ü

Council has committed to a

position statement that includes

a commitment to:

— adopt and promote a custodial

ethic of Caring for Country

— acknowledge the 21st century

as a period of climate emergency

and opportunity for positive

social change

— lead the Brimbank community

to zero net emissions and

— position the climate emergency

as the strategic focus of

Council operations.

ü

Council worked with the Western

Alliance for Greenhouse Action

and with 46 Victorian councils to

finalise contracts for the Victorian

Energy Collaboration (VECO)

power purchase agreement to

provide councils with 100 per cent

renewable electricity from

1 July 2021.

ü

Council released its proposed

model for households to move to the

new four-bin waste and recycling

collection service from 1 July 2023.

Under the State Government’s

Circular Economy Policy, all Victorian

councils must introduce food and

garden organics for all households

by 2030.

In May 2021, the State Government

committed $5 million towards the

planting of 500,000 trees across

six municipalities in Melbourne’s

west, including Brimbank. Council’s

commitment to Greening the West will

increase tree canopy cover to mitigate

the impacts of heatwaves. The planting

of these trees will create cooler spaces

for families in the western suburbs

to enjoy for generations to come. It

will also provide more shade and

green spaces, driving down pollution

and improving air quality. This

announcement follows the planting of

150,000 trees across the municipality

between 2015 and 2017.

ü

— The

Victorian Government will establish

a new grants program to help

businesses improve resource

efficiency, reduce waste to landfill,

increase recycling and reduce

business costs.

ü

— The

Victorian Government will provide

grants to support local community

groups, social enterprises and other

not-for-profit businesses working to

reduce waste and improve recycling,

including through repair cafes and

product-sharing schemes.

ü

— From 2025, all

new public buses in Victoria will

produce zero emissions. The State

Government has been running

a $20 million Zero Emission Bus

Trial to guide this shift.

ü

— A total

of 778,500 households will receive

rebates for solar panels, solar hot

water systems and batteries, and

15,000 small businesses will receive

State rebates for solar panels. This

will accelerate Victoria’s transition

to a clean and efficient energy

future, ensuring that 50 per cent of

Victoria’s electricity will come from

renewable sources by 2030.

ü

—

The Victorian Government will derive

100 per cent of its electricity from

renewable sources by 2025.

This will be achieved by supporting

large-scale renewable energy

projects to meet government

electricity needs, and by installing

more renewable energy on

government sites.

ü

—

The Victorian Government is

investing in on-site renewable

energy for Victorian schools,

hospitals and other facilities.

For example, The Greener

Government School Buildings

program has led to solar power

being installed at 42 schools.

Stop the Soil was a joint advocacy

campaign by Melton and Brimbank City

Councils which sought to prevent the

delivery of approximately 1.5 million

cubic metres of West Gate Tunnel

Project soil to the Melbourne Regional

Landfill located in Ravenhall.

Since the release of Brimbank’s

2019 Advocacy Plan:

ü

The Stop the Soil advocacy

campaign was launched in August

2020 and continued throughout the

first half of 2021.

ü

It was announced on 25 June

2021 that the unsafe levels of

contaminated soil would be

disposed of in the Hi-Quality landfill

site in Bulla and not Ravenhall.

Stony Creek is a highly-valued

urban waterway that runs through

Melbourne’s western suburbs and

flows into the Yarra River beneath the

West Gate Bridge. The Creek has a long

history of pollution and contamination

due to decades of industrial activity.

The rehabilitation of Stony Creek will

require the transformation of Upper

Stony Creek from a concrete drain into

a natural, revegetated creek with a

vibrant community space and walking

paths, including much needed open

space for Sunshine North residents.

Since the release of Brimbank’s

2019 Advocacy Plan:

ü

The Upper Stony Creek

transformation project has

delivered a large wetland with

around 10,000 plants, an irrigation

system and associated path

network, thanks to a $500,000

contribution from the State

Government. The new wetland site

and path network have created

a natural space featuring a blue/

green oasis accessible to the

local community for walking and

experiencing nature.

ü

Melbourne Water is investigating

improvements to Stony Creek

behind Sunshine Hospital from

the M80 to Magnolia Street,

St Albans. The improvements seek

to make this section of Stony Creek

more accessible and to improve

urban greening with the aim to

further support liveability for the

local community.

16

Brimbank City Council recognises

the critical role that sport plays in the

community and has a responsibility

to encourage participation in sport by

planning and delivering appropriate

facilities. While such facilities

are used by Brimbank’s sporting

associations, clubs and schools for

formal competitions and training, they

are important for all residents and

community groups who use them for

informal games and play. New and

updated sports and recreation facilities

are an important part of getting more

people more active, more often.

Since the release of Brimbank’s

2019 Advocacy Plan:

ü

Council welcomed $4 million

from the State Government towards

the redevelopment of More Park

in Ardeer. This will support more

women and girls to get fit, healthy

and active. A total of 139 jobs will

have been created through this

project to help support the

local economy.

ü

A total of $1.084 million was

provided by the State Government

to upgrade Bon Thomas Reserve in

Deer Park with a new asphalt car

park, multi-purpose cricket nets,

irrigation upgrade for the oval and

a new path network.

ü

The State Government has

provided $625,000 towards the

Errington Reserve sportsground

reconstruction and the Delahey

Sport Pavilion redevelopment.

ü

The State Government has

provided $500,000 for new

female-friendly change rooms

at Keilor Park Reserve.

ü

A State Government grant worth

$250,000 was awarded to install

100 LUX LED lights over two ovals

at Keilor Park sports ground as

well as a general power upgrade

for the grounds.

ü

The Deer Park Bocce Club has

received $200,000 from the State

Government to upgrade its indoor

courts and lighting.

ü

The Federal Government has

provided $320,000 towards a

‘Change Makers’ sports initiative

for newly arrived immigrant and

multicultural communities.

ü

Both the State and Federal

Governments have committed

a combined $7.6 million

for shovel-ready sports and

recreation projects.

Council has been advocating for

improvements to kindergarten services

and schools throughout the community.

Improving education opportunities

from early years through to tertiary

education will ensure our residents

have a fair go and, in the longer term,

will help with securing employment

and growing the economy.

Since the release of Brimbank’s

2019 Advocacy Plan:

ü

Over $64 million has been allocated

through the Fairer Funding for

Schools program for schools across

Brimbank. As a result, primary and

secondary school students from

Sunshine to Taylors Lakes will

benefit from improvements to their

campus facilities.

ü

$200 million has been announced

to establish the School Mental

Health Fund, which Victorian schools

will use for support programs, staff

and other resources.

ü

$400.7 million has been allocated

to making three-year-old

kindergarten accessible across all

Victorian communities from 2022.

ü

As part of the 2021–2022 Federal

Budget, the Government committed

to an ongoing Commonwealth

funding contribution for 15 hours

of no-charge preschool education

for all children for the next four

financial years.

A future focused,

transforming city where all

have opportunities to learn

and earn — a prosperous

place for all.

Optimise community

opportunities through

infrastructure innovation

and investment.

Brimbank has a unique opportunity to break the cycle

of inter-generational unemployment and disadvantage

by maximising the benefits of the Melbourne Airport

Rail (MAR) for the local community.

Council launched the ‘Transforming Brimbank,

Let’s Build it Better Together’ campaign in September

2021. In conjunction with the Sunshine Priority Precinct

2050 Vision, this campaign aims to increase community

awareness of the MAR project, and to pursue further

investments for the Sunshine Priority Precinct, Sunshine

Superhub, the Albion Quarter and a new Albion station.

In November 2021, the State Government released the

Sunshine Precinct Opportunity Statement. This confirms

that Sunshine will be the centre of Melbourne’s booming

west and closely aligns with Council’s Sunshine Priority

Precinct Vision 2050. The Statement envisages Sunshine

Precinct as a dense and vibrant urban environment

that will provide high quality affordable housing and strong

employment growth. By 2051, the Sunshine Precinct

is proposed to have been transformed into a thriving

residential, business and civic hub.

The release of the Sunshine Precinct Opportunity

Statement followed the State Government’s

announcement of a draft Sunshine Station Master Plan

and the establishment of the Sunshine Transport Precinct

Community Reference Group.

24

Council will seek to maximise the prosperity of the

Sunshine Priority Precinct through support for the Sunshine

Priority Precinct 2050 Vision to transform the area into

a 21st century city. The future Sunshine Precinct will

see transport connections including buses, light rail and

shared user paths, a green and cool network of waterways,

parks and pathways. Sunshine will be established as an

international, regional and local visitor destination.

Council is seeking:

• Delivery of a fully coordinated program of civic

infrastructure, development facilitations and initiatives/

programs to achieve the vision outlined in the Precinct

Opportunity Statement.

• An optimal Airport Rail and Superhub design that

facilitates economic development and more accurately

aligns with community expectations.

• For Sunshine to be established as an international

regional and local visitor destination.

• An offset package which recognises that Brimbank will

experience the brunt of a decade of construction and

disruption for the benefit of other communities across

the state, including the proposed Albion flyover.

Council is calling for Sunshine Station to be redeveloped

into a visual and iconic Sunshine Superhub as a landmark

design for Brimbank. The Superhub should include a world

class interchange, attracting international and local visitors

to experience Sunshine and the broader west. Such a

redevelopment of the station will see seamless development

knitting both sides of the rail corridor together, with a

concourse design that encourages access throughout the

Sunshine Precinct.

Council is seeking:

• That the primary station entries provide direct and integrated

connections that offer a great pedestrian experience.

• For the Sunshine Superhub, including the bus interchange

and the surrounding public realm, to be supported

by a range of activities to promote safety and vibrancy,

both day and night.

• That the Superhub and its surroundings provide public

spaces for people of all ages to sit, converse, meet and play.

• Development of key sites around Sunshine Station to

create a vibrant precinct focussed on the visitor economy

and supported by high employment, street life and

affordable housing.

Albion Station is long overdue for revitalisation. The Airport

Rail Link via the Sunshine and Albion corridor provides the

perfect opportunity for serious investment. Albion Station

is regularly identified as one of the most neglected and lowest

ranked train stations across Victoria, with amenity issues,

overcrowding, and access and safety concerns. Upgrading

Albion Station will also unlock major urban renewal land

parcels surrounding the area along Ballarat Road, known

as the Albion Quarter and SunRISE (Research, Innovation,

Science and Enterprise) District. There is also continued

concern about the value creation and heritage impacts

of the proposed flyover section of the MAR.

Council is seeking:

• The reconstruction of Albion Station into a fit for purpose

public transport interchange, acting as a second Sunshine

CDB station.

• New direct physical connections between Albion Station,

Albion Quarter and SunRISE District via walking, cycling and

a new light rail.

• Commitment to an Albion Station, Albion Quarter and

SunRISE Master Plan that identifies and facilitates

surrounding investment and development opportunities.

• The State Government to reconsider its plans for an

Airport Rail flyover and adopt a staged approach to delivering

MAR by initially utilising existing at-grade tracks.

The Sunshine Priority Precinct Vision 2050 has identified

the development of the Albion Quarter and the SunRISE

District as critical for the Priority Precinct’s ability to create

thousands of new jobs by connecting the Victoria University

campus with Albion Station through coordinated urban

renewal and precinct planning. Supported by Victoria

University, the Sunshine Priority Precinct has earmarked the

SunRISE District will be a new university city, with a focus

on research, innovation, study and enterprise.

Council is seeking:

• Integration of Albion Station into the surrounding precinct

in a way that unlocks development opportunities, especially

within the Albion Quarter.

• A new St Albans Road extension creating development

potential in the Albion Quarter while establishing a high

amenity pedestrian walkway between Albion Station

and the Sunshine CBD.

• Coordination with Victoria University, the law courts and

other key institutions to create a collaborative innovation,

education and employment precinct.

25

Energy Park is proposed to be transformed from a former

landfill into a 44 hectare ‘21st Century Parkland’ within the

Sunshine Priority Precinct and immediately adjacent to

the Sunshine CBD. The creation of a brand new open space

of this size and strategic location is a truly unique city shaping

opportunity in Victoria. The new Sunshine Energy Park is

strategically located within the Sunshine Precinct and would

serve the existing population and a significant new population

(both residents and employees). It would also serve as

a recreational and events destination for the wider western

region, one of the fasting growing regions in the nation.

Council is seeking:

• Funding to fast-track the delivery of Energy Park.

• Government delivery of key connections into the new

park across State Government assets such as motorway,

railway line and roads.

• Delivery of a new state significant indoor stadium

for sport and events.

• Support for a new solar energy farm.

• Support for a new environmental community space, similar

to CERES, which includes a resource recovery centre.

• Support for new sports and recreation fields and facilities.

• Renewal and treatment of Jones Creek.

The Infrastructure Victoria’s Strategy 2021–2050 and

Suburban Rail Loop Business Case highlight the need for

significant investment in the west to meet population

growth and passenger and commuter demand. The Strategy

outlines a range of much needed infrastructure projects

in the western region.

Brimbank City Council’s Transport Priorities Paper

identifies issues with the current transport network and

proposes service solutions and infrastructure projects

that will improve connectivity in and around Melbourne’s

western suburbs. Council is working to deliver an integrated

network that considers all transport modes that will meet

current and future growth in Brimbank and its surrounds.

Council is seeking:

• More pedestrian and cycling opportunities through

an extended share path network to connect Sunshine

and Albion Stations. Improved cycleways would

encourage more residents to cycle to work and school,

reducing congestion on the local roads.

• A Ballarat light rail network which connects key locations

within and surrounding the Sunshine Precinct.

• Better bus infrastructure and a more reliable and high

frequency bus service that links key employment hubs

including major industrial precincts throughout Brimbank

and the west and to the CBD.

• Development of an efficient public transport network

where all available services operate to provide seamless

transfers between each service from early morning

through to late at night.

Seeking to work in partnership with all levels

of government and to make its own contribution

to improving outcomes, Brimbank City Council:

• Invested in the development of the Sunshine

Vision 2050, engaging with 600 organisations,

key stakeholders, partners and community

members to agree on the principles

needed to manage extraordinary growth

as a consequence of State and Federal

Government investment through the

$10 billion Melbourne Airport Rail Project

and Western Rail Plan.

• Invested $14.7 million since 2014 into the

Hampshire Road Masterplan. This sets out

the framework to guide Council in the detailed

design and redevelopment of Hampshire

Road as a unique, vibrant, safe and

comfortable place for pedestrians, cyclists

and public transport users.

• Invested $950,000 into the $1.2 million

Gateway to Sunshine transformation

project that was completed in early 2021.

This project significantly improved the

Hampshire Road and Ballarat Road northern

entrance to Sunshine, and rejuvenated the MB

Lynch Memorial Gardens that now includes

new pathways, seating, feature lighting,

more trees and garden beds. The project was

jointly funded, with the State Government’s

Community Crime Prevention Program

contributing $250,000.

26

A welcoming, safe and

supported community — an

inclusive place for all.

Responsive services

that support mental and

physical wellbeing.

Council’s Community Impact Analysis has highlighted

financial stress from unemployment, income insecurity and

a reduction in social connection as key drivers of mental

health issues in addition to ongoing impacts of the pandemic

and prolonged lockdowns.

This is compounded by the fact that Brimbank is already

identified as having one of the highest levels of very high

psychological distress (a measure of anxiety and depression)

recorded across Victoria, including increased levels of

social isolation.

Council is particularly concerned with the mental wellbeing

of young people, newly-arrived migrants and women, as well

as harm from alcohol and other drugs (including tobacco)

and increasing loneliness across our communities.

In March 2021, Brimbank welcomed the State Government’s

announcement that it will become the home of a new

$8 million mental health and wellbeing service. As part of

the State’s response to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s

Mental Health System, Brimbank was recommended by

experts to be one of the six key priority rollout locations

for a new mental health service.

28

In order to assist Brimbank’s residents whose mental

health has suffered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,

the Federal Government is urged to substantially

increase recurrent mental health expenditure, in average

annual real per capita spending, from 1.3 to 2.5 per cent.

Increased funding, accessibility and services for the

Commonwealth Better Access initiative is also required.

This will extend access to mental health professionals

and care to more people.

The Victorian Government has accepted all

65 recommendations of the Royal Commission

into Victoria’s Mental Health System and committed

$3.8 billion to mental health and wellbeing in the

2021–2022 Victorian State Budget. Council seeks

that the Government recognise and adopt the proposed

changes to create a future mental health and wellbeing

system that provides holistic treatment, care and

support for all Victorians. Additional investments from

the State Government will be sought to ensure treatment,

care and support are available and accessible to

all residents.

Younger people can experience mental illness just

as they are seeking to participate in higher education and

employment, form relationships and set out on adult life.

Recognising that younger people are forecast to have greater

requirements for support in future, Council can extend its

current service provision to reach a greater number of local

young people. An additional $280,000 is required to expand

the following four programs:

•

— An evidence-based program

that supports parents and carers to develop an emotional

connection with their children and shows parents how

to help their children learn about emotions and develop

emotional intelligence.

•

— Based on

guidelines developed through the expert consensus of

people with lived experience of mental health problems

and processionals, this course equips teenagers with the

skills to recognise and respond to a friend who may be

experiencing a mental health problem or crisis situation.

•

— As per above, this course

is for adults working or living with adolescents and is

particularly suitable for parents, teachers, sports coaches

and youth workers.

•

— Delivers specialist youth

counselling services.

The required funding will employ an additional specialist

on a full-time basis for two years to work on all four

programs and will cover program costs.

One of Council’s strengths is being able to reach the

community in ways that service providers and the State and

Federal Governments cannot. Brimbank residents struggling

with mental health can greatly benefit from having access

to outreach workers who are embedded in a range of Council

facilities such as libraries, maternal and child health centres

and leisure and aquatic centres. These outreach workers

can be the first point of call for community members and

can provide pathways to support services and information

sources, support Council staff in understanding and

responding to mental health needs in the community

and can collect local data on those needs.

29

A Brimbank area mental health information website

can be established to operate as a portal to provide vital

details on specific mental health issues. The current

Brimbank services directory can also be expanded to a

source of information of organisations and contact details

of specialists who can provide mental health support.

Such a website can be structured to provide a live chat

feature as well as information on the location of the mobile

mental health treatment specialists on certain days.

These programs will assist students to better understand

mental health and how to access the support they need

should they be experiencing mental illness. One such

program, Safe Talk and Assist, has been provided to the

community without charge through the Melton-Brimbank

Suicide Prevention trials and ends in June 2022.

Additional funding and expansion of the program’s training

workshops provided in secondary schools allows young

people to have access to training to become suicide

alert helpers. Other programs could include employing

mentors with lived experience and who have successfully

championed their way through illness and want to now

help others.

Seeking to work in partnership with all levels

of government and to make its own contribution

to improving outcomes, Brimbank City Council:

• Will adopt a two-year mental wellbeing

implementation plan in 2022 to support

improved mental wellbeing in the community.

• Developed the Brimbank Youth Strategy

2020–2024 with the vision that young people

have access to ongoing opportunities for

empowerment and active collaborations,

enabling them to respond to evolving trends

and to thrive in their communities. As part of

the development of this strategy, a total of

four workshops were conducted that included

statewide youth service agencies, local

government youth service teams in the west

and Brimbank youth service stakeholders.

• Approved a one-off allocation of $200,000

as part of the Annual Budget 2021–2022

for a youth support grants category to support

youth-led or youth co-designed COVID-19

recovery and support activities, projects

and events.

• Allocated $25,000 in the 2021–2022

Council budget to prepare a report detailing

analysis of mental health service provision

and needs for Brimbank residents and local

strategies to improve community mental

health and wellbeing.

• Provided over $18,000 towards the

training and implementation of the Youth

Mental Health First Aid program to Brimbank

staff in 2021. The approximate cost of

continuing the program in 2022 and 2023

is approximately $27,000.

• Provided approximately $14,500

towards the training and implementation

of the Tuning in to Teens program

in 2021. The estimated cost for the delivery

of the program in 2022 is $11,236.

• Has had an ongoing financial commitment

for the past 10 years of one full-time

employee dedicated to providing short term,

early intervention counselling to young people

aged 12–25. The annual cost for 2022

is $113,522.

30

A future focused,

transforming city where all

have opportunities to learn

and earn — a prosperous

place for all.

Everyone has access to

education, training and

life-long learning to support

their aspirations.

Brimbank has traditionally suffered from an unemployment

rate that is higher than that of Greater Melbourne especially

amongst those from culturally and linguistically diverse

(CALD) communities with low English communication skills.

This has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As outlined in the 19 Point Action Plan for COVID-19

Response and Recovery, Council is dedicated to supporting

local industries, businesses, workers, residents and

especially young people throughout the recovery.

Young people in Brimbank need employment to participate

fully in society. Productive work delivers an income

and enables young people to participate in decisions

which affect their lives.

In recognition of the central role of employment in

young people’s lives, Brimbank City Council developed

the Youth Jobs Strategy 2018–2023, with the purpose

of responding to high youth unemployment rates

across Brimbank.

32

Project BrIMPACT was launched in 2019, receiving

$200,000 of funding from the Federal Government through

the Regional Trials Program. BrIMPACT brought together

local businesses and young people to co-design and trial

new procurement, recruitment and employment practises

more suited to local young people who face additional

barriers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project

concluded two months earlier than expected.

Council is seeking:

• The necessary funding to allow the reintroduction

of the BrIMPACT program. This will deliver much-needed

employment opportunities for young people in

the Brimbank region through partnerships between

Brimbank City Council, interested local businesses

and employment agencies.

Currently operating in the heart of Sunshine, Brimbank

Learning Futures (BLF) is a place where young people

and others in the community can get help with questions

about training, education and employment. BLF creates

positive learning experiences through various programs

to enable better education and employment outcomes.

BLF offers programs in various area, including how to start

a small business, young workers’ rights, interview skills

and future employment workshops.

Council is seeking:

• A total of $300,000 in funding to grow the BLF facility

by increasing staffing and expanding on the programs

that the facility provides. This amount will allow BLF

to employ a full-time staff member for a three-year

period to continue rolling out programs to the community,

especially the youth who face compounding barriers

to employment.

• Additional funding to continue reaching local CALD

communities through multilingual outreach officers

focused on increasing community engagement

for individuals and groups who feel disenfranchised.

• Additional funding for increasing social connection

and boosting social capital for individuals and groups

in remaining engaged in learning or employment,

as well as improved physical and mental health and

overall wellbeing.

The Local Jobs for Local People program aims to grow

the number of local jobs being filled by local residents.

It works by connecting local job seekers with training

providers and educational institutions such as

Victoria University.

Council is seeking:

• The expansion of partnerships between Council’s

Local Jobs for Local People program and businesses

to allow better opportunities for local job seekers to

secure meaningful and sustainable employment.

• Funding to employ a full-time staff member to coordinate

and develop partnerships to support industries struggling

to find staff such as the manufacturing, warehousing and

logistics, health, construction and retail sectors.

• To bring awareness to more local businesses about

the program. Businesses will gain an understanding of

the benefits this project can bring if they get involved.

• The expansion of a mentoring program aimed at

providing both a positive relationship with an adult

and tailored support for achieving educational or

employment goals. It will also potentially open up

other networks within the specific areas of interest

through the mentors’ connections.

• The continuation and expansion of the Head Start

program aimed at providing skills and work experience

to senior secondary school students.

33

Brimbank City Council has secured $660,000 from the

Victorian Government to employ Jobs Victoria Advocates

as part of the return to work initiative following extensive

lockdown periods. This project provides access to

employment services, training opportunities and other

support for people who have lost their jobs due to the

pandemic and long-term unemployment. The project is

coordinated through Council’s BLF facility, utilising libraries,

neighbourhood houses, local shopping centres and other

public spaces.

Council is seeking:

• Additional funding to employ more job advocates

who are bilingual and bicultural to connect people from

diverse backgrounds with skills and training through

apprenticeships, work and learning centres, and TAFE

Skills and Job Centres. Additional job advocates can work

with specific cultural and language groups across libraries,

neighbourhood houses and local shopping centres to

reach more people looking for help in finding employment.

Seeking to work in partnership with all levels

of government and to make its own contribution

to improving outcomes, Brimbank City Council:

• Established the BLF facility within

Sunshine’s Visy Cares Hub. This involved a

$5.8 million investment in the redevelopment

of the Hub, a new building that connected

to the existing youth hub to create a space

for young people to engage and learn new

skills. Council contributed $2.5 million

to the project, with a further $2 million from

the Federal Government, $800,000 from

the Pratt Foundation and $500,000 from the

State Government.

• Formalised a new memorandum of

understanding with Victoria University

to further bolster and align local learning

pathways and outcomes in response

to the pandemic. Council remains supportive

of the Mitchell Institute and Victoria

University’s ongoing advocacy for the

establishment of a job and skills institute

for Melbourne’s west.

• Employed more than 150 local unemployed

people to deliver work on Council projects

and initiatives in response to COVID-19,

as part of the Victorian Government’s Working

for Victoria initiative.

• Provided 53 staffing hours between

August and November in 2021 to create

a webinar series highlighting services,

stories and pathways to employment in order

to help 221 young people with disabilities

transition successfully from school to work.

• Provided 259 staffing hours between

January and September in 2021 to assist

111 Brimbank job-seekers with resumes,

cover letters and online job applications.

• Provided 50 staffing hours for a three-day

online festival in May 2021 that supported

280 job seekers and those looking for a

career change.

34

Liveable and connected

neighbourhoods that

support healthy and

sustainable futures —

a green place for all.

Inviting and liveable

spaces and facilities,

connected so people

can get around.

Brimbank’s strategic location includes close access

to major freeways, the Port of Melbourne and both

Tullamarine and Essendon Airports. Its road network

plays an important role in supporting the state and national

economy by connecting Melbourne’s western industrial

precincts to these ports and intermodal terminals.

The rapid growth occurring in Melbourne’s outer west,

including Melton and Wyndham, as well as in Sunbury,

is placing increasing pressure on the arterial

road network.

While Brimbank is committed to reducing the reliance

on private vehicles within our community, there are

a number of strategic opportunities to manage traffic

congestion by alleviating bottlenecks and to improve

safety on our road network.

The Calder Freeway, Calder Park Drive, Robinsons Road

and Taylors Road are prime examples of major road

corridors that suffer from substantial traffic congestion,

with significant growth and development occurring in the

surrounding area. Urgent funding is therefore needed to

upgrade these vital road networks in Brimbank.

36

Serving as the primary road connection between Melbourne

and Bendigo, the Calder Freeway has been identified as one

of Victoria’s most dangerous roads.

Council is seeking:

• An upgrade to the Calder Freeway between the

Western Ring Road and the Melton Highway to bring it up

to freeway standard. This can be achieved by adding lanes,

as well as emergency stopping lanes, from Keilor Park

Drive to Melton Highway, and by widening the Maribyrnong

River Bridge.

• The construction of a full diamond interchange at the

intersection of the Calder Freeway and Calder Park Drive.

• For the State Government to push ahead with the removal

of the level crossing on the Sunbury train line at Calder

Park Drive.

• The duplication of Calder Park Drive between the

Calder Freeway and the Melton Highway.

The Taylors Road corridor is increasingly performing an

arterial function in the broader regional road network.

Significant growth and development in the surrounding area

is adding to the increased traffic congestion and long delays

for commuters travelling through this busy corridor.

Council is seeking:

• The duplication of Taylors Road into a six-lane primary

arterial road, along with associated pedestrian and

off-road bicycle infrastructure, thereby aligning it with the

section between Kerrison Avenue and Sunshine Avenue.

• State Government funding to manage future

upgrades to Taylors Road between Kings Road

and Watervale Boulevard.

• The State Government to declare the section of

road between Kings Road and Watervale Boulevard

as an arterial road to be managed by the Victorian

Department of Transport.

• Installing traffic signals at the intersection of Tennyson

Drive and Taylors Road, Delahey. Traffic signals would

assist with traffic flow and road safety, particularly

for pedestrians trying to access bus, transport and retails

facilities in the area.

Robinsons Road, between Boundary Road and Westwood

Drive, forms the municipal boundary between Brimbank and

Melton City Councils. The road presents a number of urgent

safety and operational issues and is not fit for purpose as an

arterial road connection between multiple freeways.

Council is seeking:

• That the State Government adopt the road as a

state-managed arterial road and duplicate the corridor

in order to accommodate increasing demand.

Ballarat Road, between Duke Street and the M80,

is a significant safety concern, particularly regarding

pedestrians. The corridor also acts as a significant

impediment to pedestrian and bicycle access to and

from the Sunshine Activity Centre.

Council is seeking:

• Light rail along Ballarat Road and other key roads

contributing to a more integrated transport network and

increased frequency of existing bus services.

• A holistic review of the Ballarat Road corridor in order

to facilitate denser and more diverse land uses, higher

capacity public transport services and greater pedestrian

cyclist permeability.

• State Government to consider additional signals at

Adelaide Street and Chatsworth Avenue in order

to provide safe crossing points for pedestrians and

to assist right-turning vehicles.

Sydenham Road is experiencing increased traffic

congestion and continuous difficulties with parking for

commuters traveling via Watergardens Train Station.

Council is seeking:

• To prioritise the curbing, car park installation, road works

and beautification of Sydenham Road.

• A strategic cycling corridor to be provided to connect the

Watergardens rail corridor between Watergardens Station

and West Footscray to assist residents in getting around

in a more sustainable way.

• Funding from the State Government to link Regan Street

to Sydenham Road through a new cycling connection

enabling commuters to conveniently cross over Taylors

Road without the use of a car.

37

Seeking to work in partnership with all levels

of government and to make its own contribution

to improving outcomes, Brimbank City Council

has invested over $123 million during the

last five years into upgrading the road and

footpath network across the municipality.

This has improved the safety of our roads

and helped to develop and maintain our road

network infrastructure.

38

A future focused,

transforming city where all

have opportunities to learn

and earn — a prosperous

place for all.

Optimise community

opportunities through

infrastructure innovation

and investment.

Strict and changing restrictions aimed at alleviating the

spread of COVID-19 have disrupted Brimbank’s local

businesses. Supporting Brimbank businesses is an

important part of the Brimbank COVID-19 Response and

Recovery Strategy, a whole-of-council effort to assist local

businesses and residents as we recover and rebuild.

The implementation of this strategy has a focus on

how Council can assist our local businesses to overcome

obstacles and prioritise our business community.

40

Over 33 per cent of local businesses who are associated

with the transport, logistic, warehouse, tourism,

arts and recreational sectors have been heavily impacted

by Melbourne Airport operations, which plays a major role

in supporting local economic, business and employment

activity. A dedicated COVID-19 economic response package

could involve further payroll tax relief as well as additional

business grants and business development programs

that support business recovery, growth and resilience

to future disruption.

The State Government’s Outdoor Activation Fund and

major events, like the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival,

which are held in activity centres, help promote increased

visitation and patronage, and improve the sense of

community. Ongoing investment in these activities will

promote economic recovery from COVID-19 and the ongoing

revitalisation and activation of activity centres and the visitor

economy. Such investment will also support associated

performers and artists, who have also been significantly

impacted by COVID-19.

Brimbank’s COVID-19 Business Response and Recovery

Taskforce was created in 2020, as part of the Brimbank

COVID-19 Response and Recovery Strategy. The taskforce

brought together business leaders representing a wide

sector of businesses, skills and knowledge to provide input

on business strengthening and business capacity building

activities. The taskforce identified the need for face to

face support for CALD business operators on a range of

compliance matters, while the Victorian Department for

Jobs, Precincts and Regions established the Business

Concierge program to support the temporary engagement

of COVID-safe business support officers. Funding should

be extended to support ongoing COVID-safebusiness

compliance and a range of other business liaison, including

supporting the Better Approvals program, and general

government business information and support.

41

Seeking to work in partnership with all levels

of government and to make its own contribution

to improving outcomes, Brimbank City Council:

• Established a Business Recovery Grants

program to support local start-ups and help

small businesses adapt and respond to

COVID-19. This program disbursed grants

of up to $10,000 and was introduced as

part of the Brimbank COVID-19 Response

and Recovery Strategy, resulting in Council

allocating $300,000 in 2020–2021 and

continuing for a further year in 2021–2022,

with $200,000 allocated.

• Invested $170,000 into the Brimbank

Business Development Program through

online workshops, mentoring and

professional development to build capacity

for businesses to grow and develop.

• Invested $360,000 into the Activation and

Place Management Programs encouraging

customers to return, spend time and enjoy

their local activity centres and support the

local economy.

• Invested $85,000 to support the Brimbank

visitor economy, including membership

with Western Melbourne Tourism.

42

Liveable and connected

neighbourhoods that

support healthy and

sustainable futures —

a green place for all.

Protect natural

environments for current

and future generations.

Climate change is an immediate, real and all-encompassing

threat. An appropriate science-based and coordinated

public policy response is the only responsible course

of action. Council’s declaration of a climate emergency is a

bold but necessary action that sees ‘socially just’ climate

action as a necessity to be undertaken at scale and speed.

We need to respond appropriately to this urgent crisis

to create a better, fairer, more prosperous and

liveable Brimbank.

Implementation in Australia of a meaningful and popular

price on carbon pollution (see

or

),coupled with a 100 per cent

renewable energy target, would significantly reduce

emissions whilst kick starting the industrial revolution

required. The declaration of a climate emergency would

send a clear signal to the community about the scale

and speed of change required.

44

Council is advocating for:

• Building on the Brimbank Social Justice Charter and

the 2020 Transforming Brimbank Environmental Equity

Agenda to partner with community sector organisations

to understand and respond to the needs of vulnerable

groups, and advocate for a ‘just transition’ for local people

affected by the transition to the new economy.

• The Victorian Commissioner for Environmental

Sustainability to report on climate action goals as part

of the Victorian State of the Environment Report 2023.

Council is advocating for:

• The Federal Government to align policies and targets

to climate science.

• An increase to Australia’s targets under the Paris Climate

Agreement to align with a 1.5 degree trajectory and

introduce climate change legislation inclusive of a zero

net emissions target.

• No new fossil fuel projects in Victoria, and the

‘just transition’ of the fossil fuel based energy industry

and/or other industry sectors such as forestry that will

change as a result of addressing the ecological and

climate emergency.

• The Federal Government to mandate the phase-out

of fossil fuel vehicles leading to the implementation

of a ban on sales from 2030 or earlier.

Council is advocating for:

• Infrastructure projects in Brimbank, such as the

Sunshine Superhub to maximise sustainability inclusions,

including maximising vegetation, use of recycled materials

and onsite renewable energy.

• Funding to make all Brimbank homes ‘healthy homes’

via energy efficiency retrofits, and for houses to be given

an efficiency rating when sold or leased.

• Increased funding for health and emergency services,

habitat restoration and wildlife care, and infrastructure to

respond to heat waves, droughts, bushfires and floods.

Council is advocating for:

• The Victorian Government to immediately end

native forest logging in Melbourne’s drinking water

supply catchments.

• An increase in urban forest canopy cover, and

implementation of water sensitive urban design assets,

including irrigation sourced from non-potable water

sources, within the urban environs in line with urban

heat intensity and social vulnerability analysis.

• For the Western Grassland Reserve and the Grassy

Eucalypt Woodlands Reserve to be delivered as specified

in the Melbourne Strategic Assessment.

Council is advocating for:

• Federal Government-mandated product stewardship

requirements for all toxic and other relevant products

to lower their lifecycle impacts, and begin the push for

a lifecycle plan for all products and packaging.

• Greater Federal and State investment in the circular

economy and improving waste management systems that

will increase recycling and reduce waste to landfill.

45

Seeking to work in partnership with all levels

of government and to make its own contribution

to improving outcomes, Brimbank City Council:

• Assessed the feasibility of electric

alternatives to gas heating and cooling at

the Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre

in St Albans and secured an ARENA grant

of over $1.5 million, making it the first

all-electric aquatic centre in Australia.

A 500Kw solar system and power purchase

agreement will power the system with

renewable energy, helping the new centre

achieve a six star Green Star energy rating.

• Has committed to zero greenhouse gas

emissions for Council operations by 2030.

• Signed on to The Victorian Energy

Collaboration (VECO), the largest ever

emissions reduction project by local

government in Australia. VECO will provide

45 per cent of all Victorian councils’

electricity requirements with 100 per cent

renewables, reducing greenhouse gas

emissions by 260,000 tonnes every year.

• Established the Young Environmental

Leaders training program that commenced in

collaboration with the Brimbank Community

Leadership Program.

• Installed electric vehicle charging

infrastructure for its fleet at the Sunshine

multi-deck carpark and at Council’s

operations depot.

• Endorsed the Greening the West Strategic

Plan 2020–2025. The initiative was originally

established in 2011 through a partnership of

state government departments and agencies,

local governments and a range of community

organisations. In 2015 the Federal

Government funded Greening the West to the

tune of $5 million to plant a million trees in

Melbourne’s western suburbs, with Brimbank

committing to plant 150,000 trees in parks

and waterways.

46

In late 2019, Melbourne Airport

announced it would construct its third

runway in a north-south orientation.

This announcement followed a technical

review by Melbourne Airport that

resulted in a change from the previously

announced east-west orientation.

The aim is to ease the high levels of

congestion seen at Melbourne Airport

prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, by

allowing for simultaneous take-offs

and landings.

Melbourne Airport plans to open its

third runway between 2027 and 2029.

New flight paths will increase the

number of flights to approximately

135,000 a year, resulting in significantly

more aircraft noise for residents who

live just north and south of the Airport,

amongst other impacts.

Currently there are no plans to help

local communities within Brimbank

adapt to increased airport operations.

Council is engaging with the Federal

Government and representatives of

Melbourne Airport to fully understand

the impacts on Brimbank, and consider

measures to mitigate noise and other

negative effects on the environment,

infrastructure and community.

In the past, compensation schemes

have been established to support

households affected by additional

airport activity. These include

compensation schemes in response

to the construction of Sydney Airport’s

third runway in 1994, and more recently,

a new airport in Sydney’s Badgerys

Creek and the recent expansion of

Adelaide Airport’s terminal to increase

its international capacity.

47

Liveable and connected

neighbourhoods that

support healthy and

sustainable futures —

a green place for all.

Inviting and liveable

spaces and facilities,

connected so people

can get around.

Continue to utilise

and activate existing

parks by maximising

investments and

assets. Create more

pocket parks and

walking trails to

encourage community

health and wellbeing.

A welcoming, safe and

supported community

— an inclusive place

for all.

Responsive services

that support mental

and physical wellbeing.

Continue to work with

partners such as the

Alliance for Gambling

Reform, Victorian

Responsible Gambling

Foundation and the

Victorian Government

to minimise the

detrimental social and

economic impacts of

EGMs and other forms

of electronic gambling.

Liveable and connected

neighbourhoods that

support healthy and

sustainable futures —

a green place for all.

Inviting and liveable

spaces and facilities,

connected so people

can get around.

Continue our

commitment to

construct a new train

station and a Park

and Ride facility at

Calder Park to relieve

parking problems at

Watergardens Station.

9249 4000

info@brimbank.vic.gov.au

PO Box 70

SUNSHINE VIC 3020

brimbank.vic.gov.au

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