The Northern Councils Alliance has launched its Strategic Plan 2022-2026, a five-year blueprint for regional advocacy across four strategic priority areas and its accompanying document, Advocacy Priorities 2022-2023.
Melbourne’s north is home to one million people or 20 per cent of the population of Greater Melbourne. It’s one of the fastest growing regions, with a population of 1.5 million forecast by 2036 – a growth rate of 2.8 per cent compared to 1.6 per cent for Greater Melbourne.
One in six Victorians live in the northern Melbourne region.
The NCA’s Strategic Plan 2022-2026 and Advocacy Priorities 2022-2023 are the result of a collaborative effort to determine strategic priorities and advocacy projects for the region,
developed by the municipalities of Banyule, Darebin, Hume, Merri-bek, Mitchell, Nillumbik and Whittlesea in conjunction with regional partners.
The next step is advocating to Commonwealth and atate Governments for support and funding to achieve the plan’s goals.
Investment in strategic priorities, as outlined in the Strategic Plan 2022-2026 and Advocacy Priorities 2022-2023, is essential for transport connectivity, precinct development, business and employment growth, access to education and health services, future proofing the economic and social development of Melbourne’s north, and ensuring equality and liveability for the community, the NCA said.
“Investment in our region was urgently needed before COVID-19 … and it’s even more critical today,” Cr Elizabeth Nealy, Banyule mayor and NCA chair said.
Cr Nealy said this is a great example of councils working together and providing a blueprint for the future of their region.
Hume mayor Carly Moore said: “Infrastructure and services in Melbourne’s north are not keeping up with population growth. There is an immediate need to plan for this growth and deliver infrastructure and
projects that build better transport connectivity, jobs, health and liveability”.
Whittlesea council chair administrator Lydia Wilson said that Melbourne’s north needed to succeed in order for Victoria to succeed.
“ Targeted investment in the north will be critical to the economic response to, and recovery from, COVID-19 – not just for our region, but for the state, and for the country.”
