By Frank McGuire, Broadmeadows MP
local families have delivered a major turnaround in vaccination rates lifting lockdowns. Thanks go to everyone in the community who has been vaccinated and health workers, especially nurses, for their commitment to vulnerable people in the State District of Broadmeadows.
Such a response has been incredibly important for all of us and is deeply appreciated. Once the Australian government increased the supply of doses to Victoria, the state government supercharged the roll-out, accelerating vaccinations in our communities from the lowest to among the highest rates.
Pop-up sites made jabs in arms more accessible across Melbourne’s north. I witnessed the commitment and care of workers from DPV Health and St. Vincent’s Hospital, rapidly establishing a range of vaccination sites adapting to the needs of our communities. Town Hall Broadmeadows features walk-in vaccinations and the old Ford factory delivers drive-through jabs in arms for the final vaccination push.
The pandemic proves how our lives and livelihoods intertwine. Broadmeadows is confronting the catastrophes of our times and reimagining opportunities.
Vaccinations are vital to economic recovery. Only a small number of countries make this gift from science. CSL is manufacturing more than 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Broadmeadows to save lives and livelihoods in Australia and overseas.
Broadmeadows provides the independent supply chains, manufacturing scale and national sovereignty Australia craves. The investment attraction plan has succeeded with an estimated $1 billion in shovel-ready and pipeline projects since the 2016 strategy, Creating Opportunity: Postcodes of Hope.
New housing is important. Affordable housing for first home buyers and essential workers define the Homes for Community Heroes plan I am advocating as part of Australia’s biggest investment in social and affordable housing, the Victorian government’s $5.3 billion Big Housing Build.
First soil has been turned on the redevelopment of the derelict Ford site less than five years after its iconic assembly lines fell silent, devastating Broadmeadows, and signalling the demise of our once-proud passenger car making industry and Australia’s loss of manufacturing scale. Five thousand new jobs are predicted in the next five years, building on Ford’s remaining asset of international significance, its Asia-Pacific centre of excellence for innovation.
A catalyst for cleaner, greener, cheaper energy and nearby hydrogen hub are proposed, underscoring the value of Broadmeadows as a new epicentre for smarter jobs in Melbourne’s north.
Priority status has been secured for investments under the City Deal for North and West Melbourne I initiated and continue to pursue. Aim is to fast-track a super-hub for transport, jobs and social infrastructure featuring post-COVID amenity for community wellbeing.
