By Tate Papworth
A who’s who of the west gathered at Parliament House last Thursday for the launch of the 2020 Transforming Brimbank agenda.
The agenda highlights Brimbank council’s key requests for the record infrastructure investment coming to the municipality.
It seeks to leverage and improve opportunities across five categories: jobs, education, health, environment and fairness.
Melbourne Airport, Victoria University, Western Health, Melbourne Airport CommUnity Plus and a host of others were represented at the launch.
Outgoing mayor Lucinda Congreve said all levels of government and key players in the non-government sector needed to work together to ensure Brimbank realises its potential.
“We want to create education and employment pathways that boost the local economy and we want facilities and services, and a clean and green environment that all help to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for our local community,” Cr Congreve said.
“The North West City Deal, Sunshine Super Hub, Sunshine Priority Precinct, Western Rail Plan including the $10 billion Melbourne Airport Rail, the $2.1 billion Sunbury Line Upgrade – are mega city-shaping and changing projects.
“These projects have unprecedented potential to create positive, long lasting change in our community.”
Cr Congreve said the announcement of the Sunshine super hub has already stirred interest from investors.
“Since the announcement … we’ve had a significant increase in interest from developers in our city.
“We’ve had development plans come through for multiple commercial office towers, residential apartment towers, hotel venues and entertainment complexes.”
While jobs and education are a heavy focus of the agenda, sports and recreation also feature prominently.
Brimbank is one of five municipalities in the running to become the home of Australia’s female soccer side, the Matildas and the council insists work on the $60 million St Albans Health and Wellbeing Hub will begin next year.
Good Shepherd Australia and New Zealand and CommUnity Plus Services were both named as tenant partners for the wellbeing hub during the agenda launch
