Zoe Moffatt
Hume, Whittlesea and Mitchell councils will join forces to discuss the Cloverton Metropolitan Activity Centre (MAC), which has been positioned as the “future capital of the north”.
On Monday, August 28, Hume councillors voted for councillors Jim Overend and Karen Sherry to attend a meeting on October 3, which will be chaired by Hume mayor Joseph Haweil.
At the meeting, councils will discuss the strategic importance of Cloverton MAC, which is set to become the northern growth corridor capital, if planned strategically.
Councillor Naim Kurt said it is a significant proposal that has been put forward and a number of councillors put their hand up to attend the meeting.
“We believe this is in fact the first ever joint meeting of three council areas, and speaks to the significance that the Cloverton [MAC] will be as a future capital of the north,” he said.
“The fact that it folds over three council boundaries means that we need to have a coordinated approach between all three local governments in the area.
“[This will also] put the message forward to the state government that… we need their support to make this city centre a success.”
Cloverton MAC will service a regional catchment of approximately 380,000 residents and will sustain an estimated 7500 jobs within the area.
Council said it will become the primary employment and service centre for Mickleham, Kalkallo, Donnybrook, Beveridge and Wallan.
The meeting will start at 5pm with the meeting set to be livestreamed.
