Whittlesea council will get more than $6 million to help residents living on Melbourne’s fringe.
Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins has announced a number of infrastructure projects to receive funding from the $50 million Interface Growth Fund.
“These projects will help make our growing communities better places to be, while also growing the local economy and creating jobs,” Ms Hutchins said.
Five projects have been given funding in Whittlesea. The largest sum of money will go to redeveloping the Barry Road community activity centre at Lalor.
About $2.6 million will upgrade maternal and child health services, kindergarten and adult learning spaces at the centre.
Lalor Tennis Club’s upgrade, currently under way, will receive $1.25 million, most of it to resurface six tennis courts and build a new pavilion. Mill Park Lakes Reserve at South Morang has been allocated $1.18 million to help pay for the extension of its pavilion.
About $781,000 has been earmarked for refurbishing Epping Services Hub, and $260,000 will go to upgrading playgrounds across Whittlesea.
Mayor Ricky Kirkham said the state government was responding to the needs of residents in Melbourne’s growth corridors.
More needed
“While we will always be asking both the state and federal governments for more, I congratulate and thank the Victorian government and our local members for being responsive to the needs of Melbourne’s north.
“We are under constant pressure to meet needs, not only of our residents living in established suburbs but also some 8000 new residents moving into our municipality each year,” he said. “Council cannot do it alone … we’re reliant on productive partnerships with all levels of government.”
Cr Kirkham called on the federal government to follow Premier Daniel Andrews’ lead and set up a similar fund for roads and other infrastructure for fringe councils.
So far, Ms Hutchins has allocated $40 million of the $50 million funding pool. The remaining $10 million will be distributed next month.
