New life for town centre

The St Albans town centre will be reinvigorated under a proposed partnership between the Brimbank council and key stakeholders.

The proposed group will work with the council to establish a vision for the St Albans town centre and advocate for investment and development.

It will also hold discussions between key groups on a range of matters affecting the centre and provide feedback on proposed plans, strategies and projects that impact the area.

Cr Bruce Lancashire said similar proposals had a proven track record of success in Brimbank.

“We’ve seen the result of this sort of investment in Sunshine and to now set up a similar arrangement in St Albans is certainly a wise move for what is the centre of our municipality,” he said.

“St Albans is the centre of culture and it’s unique.

“Work has already been done to improve the centre – the railway station has opened up, the shopping centre has a new look …this proposal is a very exciting opportunity for council to do for St Albans what we’ve done for Sunshine.”

The group will include two councillors, the chief executive officer, one senior Victoria Police officer, a senior representative from Victoria University, a representative of the St Albans Business Association and four major business operators and commercial property owners in the town centre.

It will also include two community/service representatives from within or near the town centre and an independent chair.

Cr Virginia Tachos will represent the council on the group and anticipates it will make a big impact.

“St Albans is undergoing big changes, or I should say a renaissance of arts, culture and culinary excellence,” she said.

“It is an exciting proposition that this group, which is committed and looking to harness this reinvigoration, will provide strategic direction, dialogue, feedback and opinion on … issues impacting the town.”