Brimbank council has released its annual report, detailing the infrastructure and services it delivered during the last financial year.
In 2024-25, council delivered $58.7 million in capital works, delivering 197 of 229 – or 86 per cent – of its planned projects.
Among the major developments were the upgrade to Kevin Flint Reserve in Cairnlea, Larisa Reserve Neighbourhood Park in St Albans and the completion of the new Lionheart Reserve tennis pavilion at Taylors Lakes.
Council also cited its planting of 5000 native plants at Bon Thomas Grasslands in Deer Park and a renewed commitment to tackling illegally dumped rubbish as highlights.
Council said its advocacy helped secure a range of road and transport funding commitments from both levels of government over the past financial year, including $300 million to construct a diamond interchange at Calder Park Drive and Calder Freeway, $12 million for a new bus route between Cairnlea and Deer Park, and $8.9 million to upgrade shared user paths in Taylors Lakes, Sydenham and Hillside.
According to the report, one of council’s key advocacy achievements included its ‘rail before runway’ campaign, which calls on the state and federal governments to build a Melbourne airport rail before Melbourne Airport’s third runway.
In the report, council listed the top 10 issues to address in Brimbank as: safety, policing and crime, traffic management, provision and maintenance of street trees, road and footpath maintenance and repairs, parking, council rates, rubbish and waste collection, cleanliness and maintenance, and parks, gardens and open spaces.
Council also stated the organisation’s main challenges which included rate capping, cost shifting, declining grants, population growth and housing developments placing pressure on infrastructure and service delivery, and increasing long-term costs from climate change, among others.
Speaking at the October council meeting, Cr Maria Kerr said the report highlights a year of strong, practical results.
“Across Brimbank, we’ve focused on the fundamentals — safe streets, well-maintained roads and footpaths, reliable local services and a cleaner, greener city,” Cr Kerr said.
“These are the things that make daily life better and give ratepayers confidence that their contributions are being used wisely.”
