Dora Houpis
Hume and Whittlesea residents will get new or upgraded reserves, community centres and parks after local councils were allocated more than $7.3 million in state government funding designed to grow their suburbs.
Hume Council will receive $2 million for the Grand Boulevard Reserve, active open space development, and $3,244,412 for the planned new Craigieburn Community Centre, to be built at 141 Highlander Drive, Craigieburn.
Whittlesea Council will receive: $500,000 each for the Whittlesea Township Park and the Riverside Community Activity Centre and Reserve : $475,00 for the Mill Park Reserve; $375,000 for the Epping Community Services Hub refurbishment; and $250,000 for the Community Energy Transition Program.
The funding announced on Tuesday 27 September is part of the state government’s latest round of funding from its Growing Suburbs Fund.
Local Government Minister Melissa Horne said the government was investing in the state’s fastest growing areas.
“We’re supporting our fastest growing suburbs to thrive by investing in the community infrastructure that is needed,” she said.
“Over the last eight years we’ve been building a legacy by upgrading parks, playgrounds and libraries for Victoria’s growing communities.”
Since 2014 the government has invested $425 million in critical infrastructure projects in Melbourne’s diverse and fast-growing outer suburbs, supporting almost 350 projects and creating more than 11,300 jobs.
Councils supported by the government represent more than 31 per cent of Victoria’s population. For more than two decades, their population growth has exceeded Victoria’s state average and that trend is expected to continue with around 900,000 additional residents forecast by 2036.
This latest round of funding will support communities across the state with new playgrounds, parks, community centres, pavilions and kindergartens.
