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Western Metro Region

Western Metro RegionFive Year Plan for Jobs, Services and Infrastructure 2018–2022

© The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2018

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Office for Suburban Development

1Western Metro Region Five Year Plan

Aboriginal acknowledgement

The Victorian Government proudly acknowledges Victoria’s Aboriginal community and their rich culture and pays respect to their Elders past and present.

We acknowledge Aboriginal people as Australia’s first peoples and as the Traditional Owners and custodians of the land and water on which we rely. We recognise and value the ongoing contribution of Aboriginal people and communities to Victorian life and how this enriches us.

We embrace the spirit of reconciliation, working towards the equality of outcomes and ensuring an equal voice.

2 Western Metro Region Five Year Plan

Introduction 4

Your Western Metro Region 5

Western Metro Region snapshot 8

The Western Metropolitan Partnership 9

Putting community at the centre 10

Metropolitan Development Advisory Panel 10

Metropolitan Partnership Development Fund 10

The Western Metropolitan Region – Land Use Framework Plan 11

Investment overview 13

Pick My Project 21

Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution 22

Growing Suburbs Fund 23

Victorian Government election commitments 24

Appendix 1: Western Metropolitan Partnership – Membership 28

Appendix 2: Victorian Government Response to the Western Metropolitan Partnership Priorities 2017 30

Appendix 3: Glossary 42

Contents



This year’s Western Metro Region Five Year Plan provides an update on the western region’s growing population and economy, and outlines the Government’s investments from the Victorian Budget 2018/19 and 2018 election commitments to support jobs and deliver infrastructure and services in the region over the next five years.

New sections in this year’s Plan include:

• a report on the advice provided by the newly formed Western Metropolitan Partnership on priorities for enhancing the western region’s economy and liveability

• the Government’s response to the Partnership’s advice, including details on its response to each of the Partnership’s priority actions

• a report on the joint development of the Western Metro Region’s Land Use Framework Plan by the Government and northern region councils, creating a shared understanding across all levels of government and the community about future population and employment growth, and housing and land use needs

• details on new government initiatives designed to strengthen metropolitan regional development and engage with communities in identifying and delivering local infrastructure and services such as the $30 million Pick My Project program.

By bringing together this information at the metropolitan regional level, the Western Metro Region Five Year Plan will assist all levels of government and the western region’s communities to work together to identify local challenges and opportunities, and develop new ways to enhance liveability and prosperity.

By bringing together this information at the metropolitan regional level, the Western Metro Region Five Year Plan will assist all levels of government and the western region’s communities to work together

The Western Metro Region Five Year Plan for Jobs, Services and Infrastructure 2018–2022 outlines the Victorian Government’s ongoing commitment to Melbourne’s western region.

Introduction



Your Western Metro Region The Western Metro Region spans six Local Government Areas (LGAs) including the inner LGAs of Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong and Moonee Valley, and the outer growth LGAs of Melton and Wyndham. The western region’s suburbs provide a wide variety of housing, employment and lifestyle opportunities. Suburbs range from the established inner and middle suburbs such as Williamstown, Footscray, Moonee Ponds, Essendon and Keilor to growth area communities stretching from Toolern Vale in the region’s north to Point Cook on Port Phillip Bay.

The Western Metro Region is the centre for transport and logistics activity in south-eastern Australia. This is supported by the Port of Melbourne, strong road freight connections to Melbourne Airport at its northern edge, and rail freight links to Sydney and Adelaide.

The Western Metro Region has a population of more than 909,300 – approximately 19 per cent of metropolitan Melbourne’s total. Over the five years to 2022, the region’s population is expected to continue to grow at a higher rate than any other metropolitan region, with the exception of the Inner Metro Region.

Accommodating this growth within the region requires support to revitalise established suburbs and to expand local services and infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing population. Timely delivery of infrastructure and services in the region’s newest outer suburbs will be critical to its success.



Western Metro Region snapshot

Population Households Housing mix

• 909,300 residents

• 19 per cent of metropolitan Melbourne’s total population

• projected to grow by 17 per cent over the next four years

• estimated population of over one million residents by 2021

• 117,000 couples with children

• 4,000 couples without children

• 66,000 lone-person households

• 39,000 one-parent families

Regional housing mix as at June 2016:

• 13,326 apartments of three or more storeys

• 228,998 separate houses

• 99,416 townhouses/flats/small apartments

Industry and business Key employment centres Employment

Top five employing industries:

• retail trade

• manufacturing

• health care and social assistance

• construction

• transport and warehousing

• Sunshine National Employment and Innovation Cluster (NEIC)

• Essendon Airport

• Major Activity Centres – Footscray, Sunshine

• 340,885 jobs in 2016–17

• 15 per cent of all jobs in metropolitan Melbourne

• the top five sectors provide more than 56 per cent of the region’s employment

• 8.4 per cent unemployment rate, 2.3 percentage points higher than the metropolitan average

Future employment growth Regional strengths Regional Challenges/Opportunities

Employment in the Western Metro Region is projected to increase by an additional 32,600 jobs by 2022:

• 7,900 additional jobs in health care and social assistance

• 4,800 additional jobs in education and training

• 4,300 additional jobs in construction

• 3,500 additional jobs in retail trade

• 3,100 additional jobs in professional, scientific and technical services

• access to passenger travel and freight hubs such as Melbourne Airport, Avalon Airport and the Port of Melbourne

• development-ready employment land

• growing workforce

• Victoria University / TAFE campuses

• links to regional centres – Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo

• addressing road congestion and access to public transport services in outer suburbs

• activating new employment centres, Footscray Learning Precinct

• youth employment

• social inclusion and addressing disadvantage

• ‘greening’ the western region

The Western Metro Region is home to many of Melbourne’s newest residents, against a backdrop of significant change and transformation in its industry structure, employment and demographic profile. Future population projections and industry trends suggest Melbourne’s west will continue to play a major role in our growing city and as home to future knowledge-based industries.



The Western Metropolitan Partnership

The Western Metropolitan Partnership was established in June 2017. Its membership includes eight community and business representatives, the CEO each of local council in the region, and a Deputy Secretary from the Victorian Government (Appendix 1).

Over its first 18 months of operation the Partnership has worked to engage with its regional communities to identify opportunities to drive improved outcomes for the region and its suburbs. This has included hosting two annual assemblies with regional community and business members to assist in developing its 2017 and 2018 advice to the Government.

In communicating its priorities to government, the Western Metropolitan Partnership outlined its vision ‘that all of our residents will be able to live, work, learn and play close to home, enjoying the unique places and cultures offered by the region. We see integrated transport, local jobs and lifelong education opportunities as key pillars to support this vision. With the right support, we believe the West will become a location of choice and become the Australian equivalent of New York’s Brooklyn – diverse, young, old and new combined, creative, optimistic and proud.’

The Partnership’s priority outcomes covered six principal themes, with specific actions that the Partnership believed should be progressed by government, including:

• Jobs and skills – Improve access to diverse and sustainable jobs close to where residents live, including targeted development of jobs and skills clusters in Werribee, Sunshine and Footscray, each with their own specific focus, as well as developing a new hospital in Footscray combined with a university campus focusing on health education

• Public and active transport, road congestion and freight – Increase the reach and strength of the western public transport and active transport network, directly improving liveability, health, access to jobs and services and reducing road congestion

• Reduce entrenched disadvantage through better health and education services – Support the health and wellbeing of children, especially in their first 1,000 days, as well as women and migrants. Targeted health and education interventions will help the western region to catch up to the rest of Melbourne, as well as providing more local jobs

• Connected communities – Foster an inclusive and creative western region that embraces and capitalises on the cultural, social and economic diversity of its people

• A greener region – Increase the greening of the West, creating more liveable suburbs for residents

• Waste and recycling centre of excellence – Best practice waste management is recognised as an unrealised opportunity for the region, with the potential to set a new standard for how waste is recycled and processed.

The Victorian Government has responded positively to the Partnership’s vision and advice on priority actions with commitments such as:

• $29.3 million allocated to construct a new secondary school, Footscray Learning Precinct, at Seddon Secondary Campus

• $55.7 million allocated for new and upgraded bus services in Melbourne, including improved bus services in Wyndham

• $22.7 million to upgrade and maintain active transport infrastructure, including at Raleigh Road, Maribyrnong

• $200,000 to develop businesses cases for waste and sustainability precincts, including a waste centre of excellence in the western region.

Full details of the Partnership’s 2017 advice and the response from the Government are at Appendix 2. The Western Metro Partnership has also submitted its 2018 advice to the Government. The Government has already commenced considering this advice and will be providing a detailed response through the 2019 Western Metropolitan Five Year Plan.



Building on its establishment of Metropolitan Partnerships to involve communities in determining local priorities, the Government has launched additional initiatives in the Suburban Development portfolio that will strengthen the Government’s focus on supporting the western region and engaging with its communities to identify and deliver innovative local infrastructure, services and initiatives.

Metropolitan Development Advisory Panel

In late 2017, the Minister for Suburban Development and Minister for Planning jointly established the Metropolitan Development Advisory Panel (MDAP). The role of MDAP is to provide expert advice to the Ministers on metropolitan development, including the implementation of Plan Melbourne 2017–2050, Metropolitan Partnership priorities and advice on enhancing Melbourne’s liveability, sustainability and international competitiveness at the whole-of-city level.

The panel includes the six chairpersons of the Metropolitan Partnerships and four members with broad skills and expertise in planning and related fields such as economic and community development.

MDAP will play a key role in keeping the Government informed about the impact of planning policies and population growth on regional communities. The panel will help the Government identify practical solutions to managing Melbourne’s growth and maintaining the city’s liveability. It will also ensure that Metropolitan Partnerships are supported to engage and play an active role in shaping the delivery of policies critical to Melbourne’s future growth and development.

Metropolitan Partnership Development Fund

As part of the Victorian Budget 2018/19, the Government has established a new $2 million Metropolitan Partnerships Development Fund.

This fund will be used to support the implementation of responses to the advice provided by Metropolitan Partnerships. It will provide seed funding for program pilots, feasibility studies and business cases to progress Metropolitan Partnership priority actions.

Administered by the Office for Suburban Development, funding will be allocated annually across Melbourne’s six partnership regions over the next two years. Funding allocations for 2018 19 will be developed as part of the Government’s response to priorities identified by the Western Region Metropolitan Partnership.

Putting community at the centre

The Victorian Government is focused on putting communities at the centre of what we do, including ensuring local residents have a greater say in determining local priorities.



The Western Metropolitan Region – Land Use Framework Plan

Plan Melbourne 2017–2050 recognises the importance of a regional approach to planning for our city and suburbs.

Action 1 in the Plan Melbourne Implementation Plan requires the development of a Land Use Framework Plan (LUFP) for each of the six metropolitan regions. The LUFPs will be forward-focused to ensure that each region has a plan to provide for the population growth and change that is projected to occur over the next 30 years. It will mean that state and local government, working together, can be clear about how best to develop land and what supporting networks and infrastructure will be needed when and where.

The LUFPs will provide a means to ensure that our suburbs are planned holistically, that we provide not only enough suitable housing, but also set aside land for employment, community spaces and parks, while protecting our natural environment. The LUFPs, developed in consultation with Metropolitan Partnerships, will inform the strategies and initiatives in future releases of the Five Year Plans for Jobs, Services and Infrastructure.

The benefits of planning at a regional scale across metropolitan Melbourne include:

• bridging the gap between metropolitan and local government strategic plans by delivering a single regional view

• providing the strategic planning basis for identifying future infrastructure, service and funding priorities

• clearly defining a land-use framework within which each council can prepare their municipal strategies and policies

• ongoing partnership and collaboration between state and local government.

The LUFPs build upon existing strategic work undertaken by state and local government to deliver a regional picture through an integrated partnership approach.

The population of the Western Metro Region will grow from 909,300 in 2017 to approximately 1.92 million by 2050. Accommodating this scale of growth will require jobs, infrastructure and services in coordination with new developments to deliver liveable and cohesive communities.

Driven by the Economy and Planning Working Groups (EPWGs) that have been established for each region, state and local government officers have collated existing planning strategies and policies to understand what is important to the Western Metro Region, its strengths and opportunities. Strengths of the Western Metro Region identified include:

• The region is diversifying the traditional manufacturing employment base to a range of knowledge-based industries, driven by the Sunshine and Werribee NEICs, the future Toolern Metropolitan Activity Centre and developing a more specialised university precinct in Footscray.

• The region features important connections to Avalon, Essendon and Melbourne Airports, the Port of Melbourne and Melbourne’s central city, facilitating Melbourne’s economic prosperity.

• There is a distinctive mix of cultural experiences and lively public spaces. The region’s emerging creative and cultural industries support eclectic neighbourhoods and creative hubs that celebrate diversity, promote innovation and can deliver opportunities, particularly for young people.

• The region features unique natural environments, including the Western Grasslands reserves, the Port Phillip Bay (western shoreline) Ramsar wetlands and iconic coastlines. A network of waterways throughout the region not only connects biodiversity but provides active transport links and improves resilience to climate change.



Feedback received to date indicate there are opportunities in the region for:

• integrated planning of the Western Interstate Freight Terminal, the Western Industrial Precinct and the Bay West port option, to ensure that the region maintains its position as south-eastern Australia’s major hub for freight and logistics

• city-shaping transport initiatives, such as the Metro Tunnel Project and a future airport rail, which will boost economic productivity and deliver accessible, thriving business districts just beyond the central city

• providing a regional integrated transport solution in coordination with developments, to improve internal connectivity and accessibility for people who live and work in the region

• improving connections and collaboration with neighbouring major regional cities, such as Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong to boost tourism in the region and position it as a gateway to central Melbourne

• providing opportunities for startups, creative industries and entrepreneurs in urban renewal precincts, especially in Sunshine and Footscray, to expand on the region’s cultural precincts and creative economy

• creating more flexible work spaces, to encourage people to work closer to where they live and help strengthen connections to their local neighbourhoods

• directing higher density development to transport corridors, activity centres and identified opportunity sites that are supported by existing active and public transport

• delivering new developments that are distinctive, high quality and sustainable in their design, and using landmark buildings as benchmarks for design and sustainability that will contribute to the region’s identity over time

• new communities adopting the principles of the ‘20-minute neighbourhood’ to deliver healthy communities and improving the integration of existing housing estates and activating community assets to improve the social cohesion of the region.

Next steps

The implementation partners for the LUFP project include: the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP); the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR); the Department of Transport (DoT); the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); the Department of Education and Training (DET); the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA); and the councils of the region. Working together, they will expand on the scoping work undertaken to date to prepare a draft LUFP that delivers a regional picture of the issues, opportunities and aspirations of the region. The Government will continue working with local and regional partners to develop draft plans for consultation.



These investments are based on the Government’s long-term strategic plans for strengthening the economy and liveability of Victoria and managing Melbourne’s continued growth and development as a globally connected city.

This section provides an overview of:

• Major investments in services and infrastructure in the western region contained in the Victorian Budget 2018/19;

• Pick My Project grants to strengthen the liveability of local areas announced for the Western Metro Region;

• Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution funds for the western region growth area LGAs of Wyndham and Melton;

• Growing Suburbs Fund grants for community infrastructure in the western region LGAs of Wyndham and Melton; and

• Election commitments made in the November 2018 state election to improve outcomes for people in the Western Metro Region.

Investment overview

The Victorian Government is responding to the growing needs of Melbourne’s Western Metro Region by investing in local services and infrastructure.


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JOBS

The Victorian Government is focused on supporting and driving economic development, investment and job creation across the state, and is committed to projects, industries and ideas that will encourage small businesses to grow and big businesses to invest. The Western Metro Region will benefit from funding provided in the Victorian Budget 2018/19 including a $21 million boost for Jobs Victoria.

$10 million to extend the Premier’s Jobs and Investment Fund to support the Government’s economic development priorities to build a strong economy, improve economic growth and create more jobs.

$6 million statewide to increase employment inclusion on Victoria’s major projects through new dedicated services to connect young people from Aboriginal and migrant communities and women into jobs on Victoria’s major projects, including roles generated by the Major Projects Skills Guarantee.

$5 million statewide for a new specialised employment support program for long-term unemployed youth and young people facing significant barriers to employment.


Victorian Budget 2018/19 – Western Metropolitan Region Outcomes

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TRANSPORT

The Victorian Government is delivering a massive pipeline of transport infrastructure projects, including removing level crossings, building the Metro Tunnel, building the West Gate Tunnel, widening City Link and the Tullamarine Freeway, streamlining Hoddle Street, upgrading the M80 Ring Road, delivering Stage 1 of the Monash Freeway Upgrade, and completion of the Mernda Rail Extension.

$115.9 million for metropolitan road restoration and maintenance in Melbourne. These works will increase the safety, efficiency and productivity of the road network by reducing the deterioration of road surfaces and improving the structure and integrity of roads.

$22.7 million for priority active transport projects to promote safety and increased use of Victoria’s cycling and walking network. Projects will include pedestrian infrastructure upgrades at Buckley Street in Essendon and Raleigh Road along the Maribyrnong River.

$16.3 million for works at Watergardens and Essendon stations to improve public transport accessibility.

$137.6 million for the transport freight plan including developing a business case to establish the Western Interstate Freight Terminal, and to support investigations for an integrated logistics hub at the Melbourne Markets and Dynon Road. The Mode Shift Incentive Scheme will be continued to encourage the transfer of freight from road to rail, reducing congestion and improving safety for all road users.

$4.3 billion for better roads across Victoria, to improve travel times, enhance safety and cater for future growth. This includes investigating and developing road improvement works for Princes Highway/Wattle Avenue, and Werribee intersection upgrades.

EDUCATION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD

The Victorian Government is responding to the growing demand for student places in the Western Metro Region by investing to build new schools and to modernise and upgrade existing secondary and primary schools.

$271.7 million for land to be acquired for new schools across Victoria including for Maribyrnong, Wyndham and Melton.




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$139.6 million for new schools and additional stages of school buildings to meet growing demand from Victoria’s strong population growth, including new schools at:

• Davis Creek Primary School

• Footscray Learning Precinct – Seddon Secondary Campus

• Point Cook South Senior Secondary School

• Wyndham South (Riverwalk) Primary School.

Additional school buildings:

• Burnside Primary School

• Saltwater P-9 College

• Dohertys Creek P-9 College.

$41.4 million to upgrade eight schools in the western region. This will improve educational outcomes through providing high-quality classrooms and facilities for learning and community use.

• Aberfeldie Primary School

• Albion Primary School

• Copperfield College

• Dinjerra Primary School

• Melton West Primary School

• Strathmore Secondary College

• Sunshine North Primary School

• Western Autistic School, Niddrie Campus.

$28.6 million for 10 Tech Schools statewide, including in Wyndham, which are connecting students to the skills and jobs of the future. Funding will renew high-tech equipment at these shared hubs over time and will increase the reach of the industry-linked Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) programs and facilities for school and community use.

$17.2 million for master planning, detailed design and early works at 14 current and future sites. This includes an Education Plan for Ascot Vale, Flemington, Moonee Ponds and Travancore, including planning of Mount Alexander 7-12 College.

$6 million to construct new early childhood development facilities co-located with the Davis Creek Primary School and Wyndham South Riverwalk Primary School. The funding will enable a stable transition from early learning services into primary school and contribute to improved educational and health outcomes for students.

Mental Health in Schools. Every Victorian Government Secondary School will have access to a mental health professional with $51.2 million to allow schools across the state to employ over 190 qualified mental health professionals.




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COMMUNITY SAFETY

Since 2015, the Victorian Government has made record investments to reduce crime and make communities safer by recruiting police, addressing family violence and strengthening our emergency services. This year’s Budget includes new investments that strengthen the justice system and prevent crime.

$390.7 million statewide to better support children who need to go into out of home care with more home-based care placements and better support for carers.

$282.6 million statewide to support vulnerable children and their families. This includes:

• $225.5 million to better assist children in the statutory child protection system through an extra 450 child protection practitioners

• $7.7 million in 2018–19 to cover civil claims costs for historical institutional child abuse

• $49.9 million for family violence therapeutic and flexible support, including approximately 6,500 flexible support packages to enable victim survivors of family violence to access counselling and therapeutic supports to aid recovery.

$96.9 million for Victoria Police prosecutors and $21.8 million to equip the Office of Public Prosecutions to prosecute serious crimes and hold offenders to account.

$27.7 million for twenty-four hour, seven days a week refuge responses for victims of family violence to provide secure, after-hours crisis accommodation for women and children seeking immediate support.

$25 million statewide for local crime prevention initiatives, including youth crime prevention projects, the Public Safety Infrastructure and Community Safety funds, and crime prevention agencies such as Crime Stoppers and Neighbourhood Watch.

$20 million to acquire new land to redevelop two new law courts, including the Werribee law court. This will relieve expected future demand pressures and improve court services.




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HEALTH, HOUSING AND WELLBEING

The Victorian Government is continuing to build a high-quality, proactive health and human service system. Building on the Government’s major investments in hospitals, we are making further investments in our health workforce, boosting access to mental health services, expanding alcohol and drug treatment and early intervention services, and improving ambulance response times. The Victorian Government also continues to have a strong focus on affordable housing and addressing homelessness, with record investment in housing and homelessness support, as well as financial backing for new forms of social housing investment across the state.

Funding for planning and land acquisition for the new Footscray Hospital to cater for the growing demand for health services in Melbourne’s inner west.

$48.1 million for six new emergency department mental health and alcohol and other drug crisis hubs, including at Sunshine Hospital emergency department.

$2 million for additional Empower Youth projects in areas experiencing social and economic disadvantage including in Brimbank and Wyndham to strengthen the health and wellbeing of young people at risk of disengagement, enable their participation in community, engage them in education and training, and enhance their pathways to employment.

Victorian Budget 2018/19 will provide $2.1 billion, supporting the 1.96 million patients expected to be admitted to our hospitals, and the 1.84 million patients to be seen in our emergency departments, this year.

More than 207,000 Victorians will get the surgery they need sooner, with a $217.6 million elective surgery blitz to cut down waiting times and lists. This is equivalent to nearly 14,370 hip replacements or more than 76,000 eye surgeries.

Budget funding will also help meet the growing demand on our health and ambulance services, giving patients the emergency care they need, when they need it.

• $25 million for a Better Care Victoria Innovation Fund to help the sector identify, scale and embed innovation effectively

• $6.7 million to deliver immunisation programs that tackle meningococcal and influenza

• $217.6 million elective surgery blitz to cut down waiting times and lists

• $2.1 million for more rural and regional patients to access support through the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme

• $6.5 million to respond to people’s end-of-life care choices.




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$705 million for more mental health support, extra regional rehabilitation facilities and new emergency department crisis hubs to help Victorians struggling with mental illness.

• $232.4 million to support 89 new and existing acute inpatient beds and boost the number of treatment hours in community-based services, giving around 12,800 more Victorians the care they require

• $100.5 million in six emergency department crisis hubs across the state, including Monash Medical Centre to help people with urgent mental health, alcohol and drug issues

• $18.7 million to support the development of six new Hospital Outreach Post-Suicidal Engagement sites

• $153.8 million to provide intensive community mental health services and support for current high-need mental health clients.

$45 million for the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Plan. Initiatives include 20 one-bedroom modular units with intensive onsite support, multidisciplinary housing teams to support complex clients to maintain stable housing, eight additional assertive outreach teams in locations of highest need, and funding therapeutic services in major inner city crisis accommodation centres to improve health, wellbeing and housing outcomes.

CULTURE AND RECREATION

The Western Metro Region offers a variety of cultural, sport and recreation infrastructure and programs with a network of regional and local tracks and trails, parks and aquatic and leisure facilities. The Victorian Government is ensuring that new and existing sport and recreation facilities meet the demand generated by population growth in the established inner west as well as new communities across the western region’s growth areas.

$67 million for a professional women’s sports fund that will be used to develop or upgrade a number of facilities for professional women’s sport across Melbourne, including:

• $5 million for Whitten Oval

• $10 million for Melbourne Victory Football Academy in the western region to deliver new and improved infrastructure and better accommodate women’s sport.

$34.9 million for state-owned cultural institutions. This includes increased operational, maintenance and collections management support for Museums Victoria; the organisation responsible for Scienceworks in the western region.




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$60 million statewide for the Community Sports Infrastructure Fund to provide grants to local governments to build new or improve existing infrastructure, increase access and participation, deliver new infrastructure to meet current and future demand in growth areas, and provide financial assistance to applicants to meet the costs of project delivery.

$50 million for the Growing Suburbs Fund to boost the number of community infrastructure projects delivered in Melbourne’s interface councils including Melton and Wyndham. Infrastructure such as parks, community centres, town centres, swimming pools and cultural facilities will be built or upgraded.

$15 million statewide for the Female Friendly Facilities fund to provide grants for developing community pavilions, playing grounds, courts and lighting to ensure women and girls can access appropriate community sporting facilities.

LIVEABLE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

The health of Melbourne’s natural environment contributes to the liveability of our suburbs. The Victorian Government is working on innovative integrated planning approaches to protect and enhance open space in the Western Metro Region.

$48 million statewide to help Victorians bust their energy bills and ensure every Victorian can access a reliable and affordable energy supply. Through the Power Saving Bonus, all Victorian households will be eligible to receive a $50 bonus if they seek out a better electricity deal on the Government’s Victorian Energy Compare website.

$1 million for the next section of the Greening the Pipeline project to transform the heritage-listed Main Outfall Sewer reserve in Wyndham into parkland, including adaptation of the Integrated Water Management Framework for Victoria where appropriate.

$1 million to develop a business case for a Werribee Open Range Zoo expansion.

$37 million to implement the Recycling Industry Strategic Plan, which will transition Victoria’s recycling sector to a more sustainable and resilient model. This includes a $13 million assistance package to help councils and industry to respond to changed market conditions in the short term.

$0.3 million for a metropolitan open space strategy to adopt a proactive and strategic approach to open space and park planning, taking into consideration forecast population growth, dwelling numbers and open space supply and demand.



Pick My Project

To further support communities to develop and deliver initiatives that strengthen the liveability of their local areas, the Victorian Budget 2018/19 set aside $30 million for a community grants initiative, Pick My Project. With this innovative grassroots democratic program, local residents had the opportunity to nominate local community-building projects, which were then put forward for the community to vote on.

Pick My Project backs ideas to improve local communities, such as new or improved sport and recreation activities, or programs supporting health and wellbeing, innovation and arts and culture.

Residents were encouraged to come up with a great idea to make life in their community even better and to identify an eligible local organisation to sponsor their idea, such as a community group, school or local council. Eligible ideas were put forward for community voting. In the western region a total of $2.8 million of funding was allocated across 25 successful projects, including:

Budget 2018-19

Cafe Sunshine - A social enterprise café, SunshineCreative Advocacy + Training for Young People, Flemington

Sunshine Silos Projection Project, Sunshine NewGen 180, Flemington

Outdoor LED Video Screen for Events in Newport, Newport

Point Cook Town Centre Community Park, Point Cook

Inclusive Playground, Altona Meadows Roadside Garbage Detection, Hoppers Crossing

Spotswood Primary School Kitchen Garden, SpotswoodWynBus - On-Demand Public Transport Bus Pilot Solution, Point Cook

Tipping Point - Footscray City College, Footscray Saltwater Dog Park, Point Cook, Point Cook

Pipemakers Park Community revegetation project, Maribyrnong

“Embrace Educate Empower” - E3 Program for Special need children/adults, Hoppers Crossing

The Medical Pantry Project, Braybrook Sensory and Sustainable Garden, Hoppers Crossing

Bike Track for Kids, West FootscrayInstallation of a Multimedia Scoreboard for Saltwater Reserve, Point Cook

School Oval Upgrade - Community Use, MaribyrnongAlamanda College and Wyndham Harbour Sailing program, Werribee South

Footscray Community Bike Shed, Footscray Trail of Lights, Williams Landing

ANIKA, Ascot Vale Community Multi-Purpose Athletics Facility, Werribee

Community Drug Education Program, Ascot Vale

More information about the 11 successful projects in the Western Metro Region can be found at https://pickmyproject.vic.gov.au/successful-projects



Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution

The Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) is a fund for essential infrastructure development in Melbourne’s growth areas of Cardinia, Casey, Hume, Mitchell, Whittlesea and the western region LGAs of Melton and Wyndham. GAIC delivers state and regionally significant infrastructure projects that support the needs of these growing communities.

GAIC is funding facilities including construction of new railway stations, land acquisition for ambulance stations and schools, and the development of cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. GAIC funding committed for 2018-19 in the western region was $64.5 million.

Western Interface Councils

Projects 2017–18GSF funding contribution

MeltonSchool Building Project $27.5 million

Melton – Toolern bus route $3.5 million

Rockbank – Aintree bus route $2.7 million

Wyndham School building project $11.6 million

Greening the Pipeline Early Works and Design $1.0 million

Metropolitan Bus Service Improvements – Wyndham $0.8 million

Tarneit West 182 bus route $10.2 million

Truganina 182 bus route $7.2 million

Table 1: GAIC funding provided in the Western Metro Region in 2017–18



Growing Suburbs Fund

The Growing Suburbs Fund (GSF) is a $200 million fund to deliver critical local infrastructure for communities in Melbourne’s fastest-growing outer suburbs.

The GSF is designed to bring forward critical community infrastructure priorities, delivering projects that improve the amenity, liveability and resilience of interface communities, support connections, enhance services and provide local jobs. These include family and community centres, town centre and civic revitalisation projects and open space and amenity improvements.

The GSF is available to 10 interface councils: Cardinia, Casey, Mornington Peninsula, Whittlesea, Hume, Mitchell, Nillumbik, Yarra Ranges and the western region LGAs of Wyndham and Melton. The following table highlights GSF funding provided in the western region in 2017–18.

Western Interface Councils

Projects 2017–18GSF funding contribution

MeltonSaltwater Outdoor Youth Space $27.5 million

Tarneit Community Learning Centre Transformation $3.5 million

Truganina East Integrated Family Learning Centre $2.7 million

Williams Landing Reserve Integrated Sports and Community Hub $1,905,000

Wyndham Aintree Community Hub $1,000,000

Allenby Road Reserve Upgrade $300,000

Arnolds Creek Playspace $300,000

Bill Cahil Reserve Upgrade $300,000

Fraser Rise Community Hub $1,600,000

Hannah Watts Park Upgrade $600,000

MacPherson Park Redevelopment $2,000,000

Melton Central Community Centre Redevelopment $2,000,000

Table 2: GSF funding provided in the Western Metro Region in 2017-18



Victorian Government election commitments

The Victorian Government is continuing to respond to the growth and change in the Western Metro Region through the following election commitments.

Jobs

Election Commitment Investment area

The Suburban Rail Loop will create around 20,000 jobs during construction – with up to 2,000 apprentices, trainees and cadets employed through the Major Projects Skills Guarantee.

Statewide

Protecting Victorians at work - new criminal offence of workplace manslaughter in the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.

Statewide

Protect public holiday penalty rates of Victorian workers, introducing legislation in the first year.

Statewide

Transport


The Western Rail Plan includes planning for the full separation of regional and metropolitan services on the Geelong and Ballarat lines, meaning fewer stops, faster trips and less crowded trains. The business case and technical work for the following will be completed:

• Two new electrified metro lines to Melton and Wyndham Vale, with the Wyndham Vale line potentially becoming the western section of the Suburban Rail Loop

• Additional tracks between Sunshine and the CBD to run extra services, most likely through a new tunnel utilised by Airport-bound trains

• A major overhaul to the express-Geelong and Ballarat lines to run fast trains, including the potential full electrification of these lines.

Region

$150 million for the Car Parks for Commuters Fund, with stations to benefit including:

• 100 new and upgraded car parks at Melton Station

• 1600 new and upgraded car parks across Wyndham Vale, Werribee, Watergardens and Tarneit Stations

• 400 new and upgraded car parks at Caroline Springs Station

• 150 new and upgraded car parks at Deer Park Station

• 100 new and upgraded car parks at Aircraft Station.

City of Melton

City of Wyndham

City of Brimbank

City of Hobsons Bay

Removal of 25 additional level crossings by 2025, including the crossing at Old Geelong Road in Hoppers Crossing.

Statewide

$5 billion towards the construction of the Melbourne Airport Rail Link, which will run from the CBD to the airport via Sunshine.

Statewide

The Suburban Rail Loop will connect every major train line from the Frankston line all the way to the Werribee line through Melbourne Airport, with up to 12 new underground stations. The Government will invest $300 million in a full business case, design, and pre-construction works, with work on the first section in Melbourne’s south east expected to begin by the end of 2022. The south east section will run underground between Cheltenham and Box Hill – with new rail tunnels linking the Frankston, Cranbourne-Pakenham, Glen Waverley and Belgrave-Lilydale lines.

Statewide



Education and early childhood


New schools including:

• Bridge Road (Melton) Primary School

• Eynesbury Station Primary School

• Grasslands Primary School

• Rockbank North Primary School

• Truganina South East Primary School

• Wollahra Primary School.

Statewide

Twelve school upgrades including:

• $3.8 million to upgrade Altona North Primary School

• $4.7 million to upgrade Altona P-9 College

• $6.2 million to upgrade Exford Primary School

• $20.2 million for the next stage of the Footscray Learning Precinct

• $4.5 million to upgrade Rosehill Secondary College

• $6.5 million to upgrade Staughton College

• $7.3 million to upgrade Strathmore Secondary College

• $12.7 million to upgrade Sunshine College

• $9.5 million to upgrade The Grange P-12 College

• $23.9 million to upgrade Victoria University Secondary College

• $12.4 million to upgrade Warringa Park School

• $1.37 million to upgrade Williamstown High School.

Statewide

Kinder for every three-year-old

Labor will invest almost $5 billion over the next decade to deliver a full 15 hours of three-year-old kinder, with the rollout beginning in 2020.

Statewide

Kinder infrastructure build ahead of Kinder investment

1000 new and upgraded kindergartens across the state.Statewide

Free of charge pads and tampons in every government school

Labor will provide free sanitary items in all female, unisex and accessible bathrooms at all government schools from term three, 2019.

Statewide



Health, housing and wellbeing


$1.5 billion for the new Footscray Hospital, co-located with Victoria University. City of Maribyrnong

New Community hospital in Point Cook. City of Wyndham

Young Families Package:

$232 million in a comprehensive package of new parent and early childhood supports to help every Victorian parent.

Build 7 new Early Parenting Centres, refurbish 2 more and deliver a range of critical services, including:

• A new Early Parenting Centre in Wyndham that will support around 690 families per year

• The refurbishment of the Tweddle Child and Family Health Services Centre and deliver a range of critical services, including day stays, longer residential stays and more support at home. This centre will support around 690 families per year

• A revamped 24-hour phone line with specialists in sleep and settling issues

• Boosting the number of Maternal Child Health Nurse home visits for vulnerable families, so 7,000 families get more support

• First aid training to around 26,000 parents per year.

Statewide with new centres in the City of Wyndham

New parents and early childhood investment

$21.8 million over four years to give new parents a Baby Bundle, which will include a nappy bag to hold essential baby products, a teething ring or toy with information on teething, key advice on child safety, feeding, sleeping and an emergency contacts list.

The bundle will also include a safe sleeping bag and muslin wrap with advice from the Royal Children’s Hospital about how to safely wrap babies, and four picture books by Victorian authors for different stages of development.

Statewide

$395.8 million to provide free dental care at all public primary and secondary schools. Statewide

Funding for nurses and midwives to:

• Undertake further nurse and midwife to patient ratio improvements to better support nurses and midwives to provide quality care to Victorian patients

• Recruit more than 1,100 new nurses and midwives to rollout these improvements.

Statewide

$109 miliion for 90 new paramedics to be recruited, Including $25 million to upgrade and build new ambulance stations and deliver 23 new vehicles on the road.

Statewide

Royal Commission into Mental Health. Statewide



Culture and recreation


$3.4 million in a historic boost to multicultural senior citizen organisations including:

• $52,000 flowing directly to 13 Jewish organisations across Victoria

• $96,000 flowing directly to 24 Vietnamese organisations across Victoria.

Statewide

Bringing Bollywood to Victoria

$3 million to a dedicated Indian Cinema and Bollywood Attraction Fund.

Statewide

Liveable and sustainable communities


Planning and design work for a new park in Melton. The proposed Toolern Regional Park will be around Toolern Creek.

City of Melton

Planning and design work for a new park in Werribee. The proposed Werribee Township Regional Park will be along the Werribee River.

City of Wyndham

The Greening the Pipeline project in Melbourne’s west will be extended, with $8 million to build new open space between Lawrie Emmins Reserve and Skeleton Creek.

City of Wyndham

Half price solar panels at no up-front cost for 650,000 homes. Statewide

$82 million over ten years to provide an additional 50,000 rebates on solar panels for Victorian renters.

Statewide

6,500 hectares of parkland and new walking and bike trails right across Melbourne. Statewide



Appendix 1: Western Metropolitan Partnership – Membership

Name Description Position

Alex Cockram

Alex was CEO of Western Health, Victoria, for five years since October 2012. She is a psychiatrist by training, and a clinician and leader in mental health and acute care. Alex is also an Associate Professor and Honorary Principal Fellow at University of Melbourne Department of Psychiatry.

Chair

Peter Dawkins

Peter is Vice-Chancellor and President of Victoria University. He has had leadership roles with the Victorian Government as Secretary of Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and Deputy Secretary of Economic and Financial Policy, Department of Treasury and Finance.

Deputy Chair

James Fitzgerald

James is a Chartered Professional Engineer with experience designing and delivering major civil projects. He was previously Director of Members, Supporters and Business Development and a Board Director at Engineers Without Borders Australia, Australia’s largest humanitarian engineering organisation.

Member

Anna Reid Anna is Regional Manufacturing Operations Manager for Asahi Beverages, which includes factories in Laverton and Tullamarine. She is a leader in the manufacturing sector and was awarded 2015 Young Manufacturer of the Year at the Victorian Government’s Manufacturing Hall of Fame awards.

Member

Rhyll Dorrington

Rhyll has over 20 years of experience working in the not-for-profit sector, including eight years as the current CEO of Western Chances, an organisation that supports financially disadvantaged young people in Melbourne’s west. Among other education and training, Rhyll has completed the Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders at Stanford University.

Member

Chris Campbell

Chris is CEO of Citywide Service Solutions, a community-focused civic amenities, infrastructure and environmental services business. Chris has extensive experience in transformation, business growth, and strategy. He is also the Chair of Citywide North Melbourne Asphalt Plant.

Member

Elleni Bereded- Samuel

Elleni is the Diversity Capability Development Manager at Australian Unity. She was recently appointed to the Multicultural Business Ministerial Council and is a non-executive Director on Western Health Board. Among other Commonwealth board appointments, Elleni served as Commissioner of the Victorian Multicultural Commission for six years and was appointed to The Women’s Hospital Board.

Member

Luke Wilson Luke is the Lead Deputy Secretary, Corporate Services in the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources. Luke is an experienced public-sector leader having worked across the agricultural, resources, energy and transport sectors in Victoria and South Australia, leading policy development on many of the key issues facing these industries.

Originally an operational forester in Myrtleford, Victoria, Luke has also worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Commonwealth Government in economic and policy analysis.

Victorian Government representative



Name Description Position

Stephen Wall

Stephen’s local government career spans more than 19 years, working in six different councils in three different states. He has held a range of senior executive roles, including CEO at three councils, which includes his current role as CEO Maribyrnong City Council.

CEO,

Maribyrnong City Council

Helen Morrissey

Helen has almost 30 years of experience in the sector. Prior to the current position as CEO, Helen was the Brimbank City Council Director for Community and Corporate Relations. Helen has held positions as General Manager of Corporate Services at Maribyrnong City Council and earlier in her career had a variety of management roles in community services and corporate areas at Darebin City Council.

CEO, Brimbank City Council

Kel Tori Kel holds a Bachelor of Economics and Politics and has over 30 years of experience in local government. Kel was the General Manager Corporate Services at Melton City Council for eight years prior to moving into the position of CEO.

CEO, Melton City Council

Aaron van Egmon

Aaron has been a strong leader in the Victorian local government sector for 15 years. Starting at Towong Shire council as Director of Development Services overseeing economic development, tourism, local laws, planning, building, environmental health and major projects, he moved to Hepburn Shire Council as CEO where he had a strong focus on project delivery, financial sustainability and improvements in customer service and community engagement.

CEO, Hobsons Bay City Council

Bryan Lancaster

Bryan has been CEO of Moonee Valley City Council since 2015. He graduated as a civil engineer and worked in the private sector, designing and constructing infrastructure, before spending nearly 40 years in local government.

CEO, Moonee Valley City Council

Kelly Grigsby

Kelly has worked in local government for over 15 years within the human services, community development, strategic and statutory planning areas, having held a number of general manager and director level positions.

CEO,

Wyndham City Council



Appendix 2: Victorian Government Response to the Western Metropolitan Partnership Priorities 2017

Following receipt of the Western Metropolitan Partnership’s advice on regional priorities in November 2017, the Victorian Government considered the advice and developed responses to each of the Partnership’s stated priorities. This has included:

• responding to priorities through engagement with existing government programs and services

• providing funding and departmental resources to further develop proposals, where government believes detailed work and evidence are required before government can consider proposals for new infrastructure and services

• developing new initiatives funded in the Victorian Budget 2018/19

• commitments to new initiatives announced as a part of the 2018 State Election.

The following outlines the Victorian Government’s full response to the Western Metropolitan Partnership’s 2017 advice on regional priorities.



Priority Outcome 1: Jobs and skills

Improve access to diverse and sustainable jobs close to where residents live, including targeted development of jobs and skills clusters in Werribee, Sunshine and Footscray, each with their own specific focus, as well as developing a new hospital in Footscray combined with a university campus focusing on health education.

Victorian Government response:

The Government is supporting the creation of local jobs in the Western Metro Region and improving transport options to better connect residents with jobs.

Several major transport infrastructure projects will connect and drive further development and employment in the region, including the Melbourne Metro Rail Project, and the West Gate Tunnel Project.

The west will also benefit from investment in the upgrades to the western road network including the M80 from Sunshine Avenue to the Calder Freeway and locally significant projects such as improvements to Doherty’s Road in Laverton North.

The Government is supporting local employment through a $7.8 million investment in the Jobs Victoria Employment Network, as well as providing $6.6 billion to generate new jobs in communities affected by the transition from the auto industry in the Western Metro region.

Priority Action Government Response Timeframe

Support the development of three jobs and skills clusters and supporting services in the west at Werribee, Sunshine and Footscray

The Government is working with Western Metro Region councils and stakeholders on proposals to activate Werribee, Sunshine and Footscray. This work is occurring through the Western EPWG and other government forums, and relates to transport, infrastructure and the economic development of the region.

Each cluster will have its own timeframe of 1 or more years depending on the project(s)

Create a regional Jobs and Skills Plan for the West with a focus on STEM, problem solving, creativity and social intelligence skills

Working through Western Regional Development Australia, the region’s councils, DJPR and LeadWest have already completed an initial jobs and Skills Plan for the region.

The Government (DJPR and DET) will review this plan and work with Partnership stakeholders to create a revised plan consistent with the economic development strategy prepared by the Partnership.

End of 2019




Plan for the development of new Tech Schools at Melton and Brimbank

The Government’s innovative Tech Schools model is currently delivering 10 state-of-the-art science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning hubs for access by over 160 Victorian secondary schools.

This is a new service model for Victoria and the Government is focused on the delivery of the current 10 facilities. While no commitment to expanding the Tech Schools has been made, expansion to more locations is possible in future.

DET will continue to work with schools in the local area to improve delivery of STEM skills and a breadth of pathway options.

Ongoing

Integrate the redevelopment of the Footscray Hospital with the university sector focussing on health education

Funding was received in the Victorian Budget 2017/18 for planning, critical infrastructure works and land acquisition for the new Footscray Hospital. This planning will provideoptions for government consideration.

TBC

Expedite the development of the Footscray Learning Precinct, as a STEM Centre of Excellence (with links to the Partnership’s proposed Footscray Hospital / university development) and develop a regional STEM and Digital Skills Infrastructure and Educational Content Plan, building on the existing investments in the Wyndham Tech School, Sunshine Innovation Hub and the Footscray Learning Precinct and Western BACE at Melton.

Funding of $29.3 million has been allocated for construction of a new secondary school, Footscray Learning Precinct – Seddon Secondary Campus, to be open in 2021. This school will be built for 500 students, assisting in alleviating enrolment pressures for surrounding schools and to meet demand of a growing population.

This stage 2 funding for the Footscray Learning Precinct is in addition to the $10.6 million provided in the Victorian Budget 2017/18, , which included $3.3 million in funding for an Early Learning Centre next to Footscray Primary School.

Delivery anticipated in 2021



Public and active transport, road congestion and freight – increase the reach and strength of the western public transport and active transport network, directly improving liveability, health, access to jobs and services and reducing road congestion.


The Western Metro Region is Melbourne’s fastest growing region and development and urban renewal are putting pressure on transport and freight.

The Victorian Government is addressing transport congestion at a city-wide level by investing $11 billion in the Metro Tunnel Rail Project, removing 50 of the most dangerous and congested level crossings, delivering the West Gate Tunnel and upgrading major freeways.

The Government is making significant investments in new road network improvements in the Western Metro Region including: removing level crossings in Williamstown, Williamstown North, Laverton, Werribee, Sydenham, St Albans and Essendon; investing $1.8 billion in the Outer Western Road network to help

improve traffic flow for the region’s residents; funding $294.1 million to upgrade the M80 to widen the section between Sunshine Avenue and the Calder Freeway; and $1.8 billion for the Western Roads Upgrade.

The Government is also improving public transport, providing $516.7 million for the Ballarat Line Upgrade to duplicate 18 kilometers of single track between Deer Park West and Melton; $8.25 million to improve transport services including interchange upgrades at Caroline Springs Station and land acquisition and early works for the new $33m train station at Toolern; and $193.2 million to continue the public transport Night Network, which will provide Western Metro Region residents with 24-hour services across metropolitan Melbourne each weekend.

Priority Outcome 2: Transport


Improve intra-regional connections to jobs, services, train stations and the airport through better bus services including:

• better planned routes

• better coordination with rail timetables

• improved frequency and reliability

• improved on-road prioritisation

• improved cleanliness and ride comfort

The Victorian Budget 2018/19 includes $41.76 million of funding for new and upgraded bus services in Melbourne, including improved bus services in Wyndham.

Further investment in bus services in Melbourne’s west will be considered in future budgets and from Growth Areas Infrastructure Contributions.

Bus service improvements are expected to be introduced from 2019 onwards

Provide regional, well planned, integrated bike paths and improved pedestrian access and walkways to reduce local road congestion and allow local visitation / commuting

The Government is committed to three priority projects in the Western Metro Region with successful funding for improvements to cycling on Cumberland Road and active transport improvements to crossing Buckley Street and the Maribyrnong River.

Next 2 years




Ensure the delivery of the Western Interstate Freight Terminal (WIFT) by undertaking planning to reserve the land and transport corridors

Building new interstate freight terminals is key to the Government’s commitment to get more freight on rail.

The Government has identified Truganina as a future location for a new interstate railfreight terminal – a project vital to meeting the challenge of a more than doubling in freight volumes by 2050.

The terminals at Truganina and Beveridge will ultimately replace the existing terminals at Dynon, which are unsuited to handling forecast freight increases or the larger trains planned for use on the Inland Rail.

The Government has committed $2.24 million in the Victorian Budget 2018/19 to prepare a business case for the Western Interstate Freight Terminal.

Strategic planning for the WIFT will also commence which will lead to the reservation of land for the terminal and transport connections.

Transport for Victoria (TfV) will engage the Western Partnership about their transport issues to further develop thinking on this priority.

Timeframe subject to the release of the Freight Plan

Land will be reserved for a WIFT in the short term

Subject to completion of a full business case, the WIFT will be developed in the medium term in 5-10 years, to align with the completion of Inland Rail project from Brisbane to Melbourne

Extend the tram to Footscray (connecting E-Gate and Docklands) in the long term

The Government is investing in the Metro Rail Tunnel, which will unlock public transport capacity for all metropolitan regions.

Airport Rail Link with at least one stop in the west

The Government supports the building of an airport rail link with any stops to be considered in the context of the preparation of a future business case for an Airport Rail Link. A route options assessment undertaken by TfV has shown that of the four routes considered, the Sunshine alignment – previously known as the Albion East alignment – is the preferred route.

TfV is also working with the Commonwealth to develop a business case for an airport connection.

Construction of the Airport Rail Link will commence before the opening of the Metro Tunnel Project in 2025



Reduce entrenched disadvantage through better health and education services – support the health and wellbeing of children, especially in the first 1,000 days, as well as women and migrants. Targeted health and education interventions will help the Western Metro Region to catch up to the rest of Melbourne, as well as providing more local jobs.


The Victorian Government is making major investments in Victoria’s health system to build a high- quality, proactive health and social service system.

The Government’s health investments are guided by the new Statewide Design, Service and Infrastructure Plan for Victoria’s Health System 2017–2037. This statewide plan supports joined-up planning at the regional level across health services, local government, Primary Health Networks, Aboriginal- controlled health services, and other service sectors. It identifies the priorities for investment in infrastructure, programs, services and resources to meet the health care needs of communities across the state.

In the Western Metro Region, $81.1 million has been provided for maternal and child health, and parenting support to help families get their kids ready for kindergarten and beyond; $200 million to constructa new facility at Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital in St Albans; $43.8 million for general practitioners to provide medical advice and health care at secondary schools; and $50 million for the planning of a new Footscray Hospital.

Funding is also being provided to support new migrants settling in the Western Metro Region, including $10.94 million to help local health and community services respond to increased arrivals of refugees, particularly those from Syria and Iraq; $2 million for settlement health coordinators in Sunshine; an immunisation catch-up program at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre; and language services including Language Services Innovation Grants at Western Health.

The Government is also working to improve health and education outcomes for every child and student. The Victorian Government has invested $6 billion to make Victoria the Education State, improving outcomes for every child and student, in every classroom, in every school, and for all communities. The Governmenthas funded $139.6 million to build new schools and$41.4 million to modernise and upgrade existing secondary and primary schools. The 2017 commitment to supporting early years health, education and child care through the $202 million Education State Early Childhood Reform Plan to expand and reform early childhood services across Victoria was supplemented by $76 million statewide for early childhood education. The Government is providing $6 million to construct new early childhood development facilities co-located with the Davis Creek Primary School and Wyndham South (Riverwalk) Primary School. In addition, the Government is contributing $33.9 million statewidefor grants to local councils to increase access to early childhood facilities, including the construction and upgrade of buildings, playgrounds and equipment.

Through the Victorian Government’s Social Housing Investment Planning (SHIP) grants program, Hobsons Bay ($140,000), Moonee Valley ($200,000) and Wyndham ($200,000) Councils received funding to help drive the planning and development of social housing in their respective areas.

These projects will help the Western Metro Region to ensure they provide high-quality education for years to come.

Priority Outcome 3: Reduce disadvantage




Leverage off the new Joan Kirner Hospital by:

• designing an improved model of community health services targeted specifically at the early years

• developing a business case for a Centre of Excellence for Parenting building on the Tweddle model

The DHHS Child and Family Services reform underway includes the service model for early parenting centres.

Service planning and a business case are being scoped. There may also be opportunities for the Partnership to explore integration with other initiatives such as Health and Wellbeing Hubs.

Opportunities for targeting the early years through Health and Wellbeing Hubs and potential corporate partnerships with any new early parenting centres will be explored with the Metropolitan Partnership over 2018-19

Increase participation in early learning education for newly arrived migrants from refugee backgrounds and socially disadvantaged families by:

• increasing the supply of early childhood education places in Brimbank and Wyndham

• embedding cultural inclusion in early childhood programs

• providing support to parents

The priority focus to increase participation in early learning by newly arrived migrants from refugee backgrounds is strongly supported. DET will work with local councils, kindergarten providers and other local stakeholders to support this, including through existing programs such as Best Start in Wyndham and Brimbank.

This will be further supported by the implementation of key initiatives under the Education State Early Childhood Reform Plan, including the expansion of Supported Playgroups and the introduction of School Readiness funding. This will directly support the accessibility and quality of early learning programs for educationally disadvantaged children.

Communications will continue in the Western Metro Region to inform broader strategies for engaging refugee and newly arrived migrants in kindergarten.

The Early Childhood Reform Plan was announced in 2017 and continues to be implemented

Implement two Youth Foyers in the west to support youth who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with housing, training, health and other social services

Subject to the outcomes of a comprehensive longitudinal evaluation of the three Education First Youth Foyers being undertaken by the Brotherhood of St Laurence.

The findings from the report will inform the design and funding model for future responses to young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

DHHS will discuss with the Partnership the outcomes of this work.

Continuing into 2019



Foster an inclusive and creative Western Metro Region that embraces and capitalises on the cultural, social and economic diversity of its people.


The Government is responding to rapid growth in the Western Metro Region by investing in programs that support cultural, social and economic development in the region.

Current funding includes $0.55 million to construct a new shared multi-use pavilion to replace outdated and temporary facilities at the JT Gray Reserve in Williamstown and $0.65 million to build a new landmark multi-use community pavilion at Fairbairn Park in Ascot Vale. The Government is also providing $2.25 million over three years to the Creative Suburbs Program to create opportunities for Melbourne’s outer metropolitan communities to engage in high- quality arts and creative experiences; and $3 million to the annual statewide VicArts Grants Program to encourage creative endeavours and the professional practice of Victoria’s artists and smaller arts companies.

Priority Outcome 4: Connected communities


Establish a multi-channel Western Youth Engagement Platform to inform the development of a Youth Inclusion Plan aimed at keeping young people engaged in school and the community

Government representatives across the Western Metro Region, through the leadership of DJCS, are working together to look at existing youth engagement approaches, including Children and Youth Area Partnerships. This will help ensure that this work effectively amplifies the voice of young people in the community.

Next 12 months



Undertake a Strategic Spatial Assessment of key locations for creative industries, followed by development of an Implementation Action Plan to support and maintain these industries at identified locations

DJPR has commenced a needs analysis and assessment of key locations for creative industries in the inner west to identify opportunities for strategic investment or intervention to strengthen and promote the creative industries in this region.

Over the next 6 months DJPR will work with the Western Partnership, local councils and industry to develop strategic responses and an implementation action plan

Deliver an Education Support Program through local schools for newly arrived migrant children and youth from refugee backgrounds, via increased English language support and cultural awareness training

DET funds Foundation House and the Centre for Multicultural Youth to deliver the Refugee Education Support Program (RESP), which includes professional development for teachers to ensure they are aware of the needs of refugee students and families. DET has worked with the program partners to ensure RESP clusters are established in the Melton and Caroline Springs areas for 2018–19 as part of the existing Common Funding Agreement.

Underway

Undertake a Gap Analysis regarding participation in sport and deliver an Active Living Census to determine regional priorities

DHHS’s Community Sport and Infrastructure Fund is available for local councils to undertake a Gap Analysis regarding participation in sport and regional priorities. DHHS will meet with the Western Metropolitan Partnership to discuss this program.

Options to deliver this action will be explored with the Partnership by early 2019




The health of Melbourne’s natural environment contributes to the liveability of our suburbs. This includes the presence of parks, trees and green spaces. The Government is currently funding a $20.6 million program for the establishment of three new parks in Melbourne’s growth areas, including parks at Werribee and Kororoit. The new parks will improve the liveability of these new growing suburbs.

Increase the greening of the west, creating more liveable suburbs for our residents

Priority Outcome 5: A greener region


Increase tree planting and general greening in the west’s most socially disadvantaged areas in line with the Greening the West Strategy.

DELWP supports the vision of the Greening the West Strategy to enable sustainable, liveable, healthy communities through urban greening. In particular, Goal 3 – Increase the use and interaction of residents in green space and Goal 4 – Improve the health and social wellbeing of residents, aligned with Victoria’s existing plan for biodiversity, Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037.

A range of incentive programs operate from time to time in Melbourne’s west, administered by Port Phillip and Westernport CMA, local government and state government including DELWP, aimed at the protection and improvement of biodiversity and benefits for the community.

EECC will investigate future opportunities for the Greening the West Strategy to connect with existing and new programs under the biodiversity plan.

DELWP will brief the Partnership on any opportunities for incentive programs that could assist the Greening the West Strategy, as they come to hand.

12-24 months

Deliver the next 3.8 kilometre section of ‘Greening the Pipeline’ (Zone 5) and Masterplan Zone 4. This would include adaptation of integrated water management systems where possible.

$1 million will be provided for planning and implementation of the Greening the Pipeline Zone 5 and Masterplan of Zone 4 from the Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution.

This funding will be made available from the 2018– 19 financial year




The Government is investing in initiatives to improve waste and recycling management in Victoria.

The Government’s investment includes $4.8 million statewide for the Officers for the Protection of the Local Environment pilot to address lower complexity waste and pollution issues including the Brimbank, Hobsons Bay and Wyndham councils; and $0.51 million for two projects in the Western Metro Region to support the development of infrastructure to increase resource recovery and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

The Government is also providing $0.33 million for new works and upgrades to the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee; $0.043 million for new works and upgrades to the Melton Recycled Water Plant to cope with new residential growth; and $0.3 million for schools in the Western Metro Region to embed sustainability in everything they do. Local engagement programs in the Western Metro Region will receive $0.03 million to target litter and illegal dumping, improve resource recovery and activate the Love Food Hate Waste campaign.

Best practice waste management is recognised as an unrealised opportunity for the region, with the potential to set a new standard for how waste is recycled and processed.

Priority Outcome 6: Waste and recycling centre of excellence



Develop an integrated industry plan which assesses opportunities and needs regarding the development of an integrated supply chain of sustainable waste sector industries in the Western Metro Region, including possible links with other regions

The Waste and Resource Recovery Groups (WRRG) are actively engaged in regional and metropolitan partnership discussions to identify waste and resource recovery investment opportunities.

This work will align with the broader government commitment to develop a whole-of-government circular economy policy, as outlined in the Recycling Industry Strategic Plan.

2018-19

Prepare a Partnership Plan for the development of resource recovery hubs in the Western Metro Region including:

• partnership opportunities to drive future co-investment

• geographic analysis regarding optimal locations

• infrastructure requirements

• staging and co-investment modelling feasibility study for two potential locations to inform the business case development.

The Waste and Resource Recovery Groups (WRRG) are actively engaged in regional and metropolitan partnership discussions to identify waste and resource recovery investment opportunities.

This work will align with the broader government commitment to develop a whole-of-government circular economy policy, as outlined in the Recycling Industry Strategic Plan.

2018-19

Linking with the existing Precinct Structure Planning process for the Werribee Junction Precinct, develop a Business Case for the creation of a Centre of Excellence for Resource Recovery in the Werribee precinct.

The Metropolitan WRRG will support the Western Metropolitan Partnership to develop a business case for the creation of a Centre of Excellence for Resource Recovery in the Werribee precinct.

This work will align with development of the Government’s circular economy policy to be released in 2020.

2018-19



20-minute neighbourhood: Accessible, safe and attractive local areas where people can access most of their everyday needs within a 20-minute walk, cycle or local public transport trip.

Active transport: Transport requiring physical activity, typically walking and cycling.

Activity centres: Areas that provide a focus for services, employment, housing, transport and social interaction. They range in size and intensity of use from smaller neighbourhood centres to major suburban centres and larger metropolitan centres.

Affordable housing: Housing that is appropriate for the needs of a range of very low to moderate income households, and priced (whether mortgage repayments or rent) so these households are able to meet their other essential basic living costs.

Annual Assembly: Annual meeting in each metropolitan region in June/July/August 2018 to assist Metropolitan Partnerships to test, refine and finalise their annual advice to government.

Community infrastructure: Public places and spaces that accommodate community facilities and services and support individuals, families and groups to meet their social needs, maximise their potential and enhance community wellbeing.

Greenfield: Undeveloped land identified for residential or industrial/commercial development, generally on the fringe of metropolitan Melbourne.

Green wedges: Defined under Part 3AA of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 as “land that is described in a metropolitan fringe planning scheme as being outside an urban growth boundary”. There are 12 defined green wedges spanning parts of 17 municipalities.

Growth areas: Locations on the fringe of metropolitan Melbourne designated in planning schemes for large- scale transformation, over many years, from rural to urban use.

Infrastructure: Basic facilities and networks needed for the functioning of a local community or broader society.

Liveability: A measure of a city’s residents’ quality of life, used to benchmark cities around the world. It includes socioeconomic, environmental, transport and recreational measures.

Major Activity Centres: Suburban centres that provide access to a wide range of goods and services. They have different attributes and provide different functions, with some serving larger subregional catchments. Plan Melbourne identified 121 Major Activity Centres.

Melbourne’s 10 interface councils: Outer-suburban councils in some of the most rapidly growing areas in Melbourne: Cardinia, Casey, Hume, Melton, Mitchell, Mornington Peninsula, Nillumbik, Whittlesea, Wyndham and Yarra Ranges.

Metropolitan Activity Centres: Higher-order centres with diverse employment options, services and housing stock, supported by good transport connections. Existing centres include Box Hill, Broadmeadows, Dandenong, Epping, Footscray, Fountain Gate/Narre Warren, Frankston, Ringwood and Sunshine. Future centres will include Lockerbie and Toolern.

Metropolitan Melbourne: The 31 municipalities that make up metropolitan Melbourne, plus part of Mitchell Shire within the urban growth boundary.

Metropolitan region: A grouping of metropolitan local government areas that are connected by their alignment within the city’s major transport corridors and shared use of major metropolitan infrastructure and services. Plan Melbourne identified six metropolitan regions: Western, Eastern, Southern, Northern, Inner South East and Inner Metro.

National Employment and Innovation Cluster: Designated concentrations of employment distinguished by a strong core of nationally significant knowledge-sector businesses and institutions that make a major contribution to the national economy and Melbourne’s positioning in the global economy.

Resilience: The capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses, systems and infrastructure to survive, adapt and grow, no matter what chronic stresses or shocks they encounter.

Urban growth boundary: The geographic limit for the future urban area of Melbourne.

Urban renewal: The process of planning and redeveloping underutilised medium and large-scale urban areas, precincts or sites for mixed land-use purposes.

Appendix 3: Glossary





Documents

Western Metro Region - Suburban Development€¦ · The Western Metro Region is the centre for transport . and logistics activity in south-eastern Australia. This is supported by