More than 40 community agencies signed a pledge at Victoria’s Parliament House last Thursday to bridge the services and infrastructure gap for Whittlesea families.
Whittlesea council convened the meeting of politicians and the 45 agency heads involved in the “Families on the Edge” campaign. They will lobby on behalf of families, children and young people in Melbourne’s north who have been neglected by successive state governments.
In a speech to launch the campaign, Whittlesea mayor Mary Lalios said there was a critical funding disparity.
“We’re the fourth-fastest-growing municipality in Victoria, but we receive only 7 per cent of infrastructure funding,” she said.
“We’re no longer prepared to accept a funding shortfall. We’ll stand as a united voice asking for a dedicated pipeline of funding in core services and infrastructure.”
The campaign is focusing on five issues: family violence, young people, financial hardships, community and assisted transport, and children and families.
Among the high-profile groups taking up the challenge to secure election commitments from state politicians are the Victorian Council of Social Services, Melbourne City Mission, the Brotherhood of St Laurence, Berry Street, the Children’s Protection Society, Whittlesea Community Connections, and the Salvation Army Crossroads Network.
Melbourne City Mission chief executive Reverend Ric Holland commended Whittlesea council for taking the lead.
“This is the stuff that keeps me awake at night,” he said.
“I’m concerned that postcodes determine a young person’s health. I’m concerned that the percentage of people in Lalor who are disengaged is twice that of the rest of Melbourne.
“And I’m concerned that so many young people from Whittlesea travel 25 kilometres to the city centre for our homelessness programs because their families are at breaking point and they feel they can’t go home.”
The council is also urging residents to become involved by telling the government they want a fairer deal.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
You can sign the Fairer Funding petition at www.fairerfunding.com.au, share stories through video and photos on the Fairer Funding Facebook page about how a lack of services affects you, and check the campaign’s progress on Twitter by following @fairerfunding.
Star Weekly also welcomes your stories.
THE PLEDGE
The City of Whittlesea is one of Victoria’s fastest growing municipalities and its rapid transformation stretches services and infrastructure to the limits. A tipping point has been reached, with families on the edge. The Whittlesea Community Futures Partnership pledges to:
■ Advocate for fairer distribution of resources for the growing communities of the City of Whittlesea to ensure we create liveable communities in Melbourne’s fringe.
■ Work together in reducing the service gaps and improving the life outcomes of City of Whittlesea communities to ensure they are not disadvantaged by where they live.
■ Work in partnership with all levels of the government to support and ensure they fulfil their obligations in building sustainable and liveable communities in the City of Whittlesea.
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