Hume council mayor Jarrod Bell will head to Canberra to advocate alongside six other mayors in a joint advocacy push for Melbourne’s north.
The travel request was endorsed at the August 11 council meeting, with Cr Bell set to visit Canberra from August 26 until August 28 as council’s delegate to the Northern Council Alliance’s advocacy efforts.
The travel will cost approximately $1700, accommodated through council’s 2025/26 budget.
Joining mayors from Whittlesea, Banyule, Darebin, Merri-bek, Mitchell and Nillumbik the group will participate in regional advocacy efforts to seek federal government funding support for key projects in the north.
These projects will include a new hospital in Melbourne’s north, the Hume Freeway and the Outer Metropolitan Ring Road, as well as mental health and family violence prevention and support services.
A public question at the council meeting helped reveal exactly what has been locked in for Cr Bell over the trip, which includes meeting with the federal ministers for infrastructure, transport, regional development and local government.
Cr Karen Sherry moved the motion, calling it an important advocacy trip.
“It’s very important for him and the rest of the group to go along and discuss our strategic priorities for Melbourne’s north, our roads, our public transport, health, family violence prevention and the allocation of funding to local government,” she said.
All councillors were supportive of the move, except Cr Bell who declared a conflict of interest.
