Councils of the West united in their call for the state government to improve facilities and services

Well your local pollies had a month off in January, and no council meetings were held. But your correspondent can report on the year that’s coming up across our four LGAs, and it’s gunna be a biggie. Not least because the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has declared war on the state government. Woah, just hang on a minute now, ‘war’ may be a little sensationalist. But the MAV is certainly “calling” for local government “reform”, starting with “addressing” the “financial constraints” that “limit” councils’ ability to “meet growing community needs”. In simple terms, this means lifting the 2.7 percent cap on rates and removing tax-collecting responsibilities on local councils for things like the Emergency Services Levy (ESL).

The MAV has published its “pathway” to “transform” local government in Victoria in a document called ‘The Future is Local’ just before Christmas. In launching the document, the MAV says the Victorian local government sector is under “unprecedented strain” and has been “asked to do more” by other levels of government and communities, with “less certainty” and “mounting financial pressure”.

“Without systemic reform the sector will continue to decline, community resilience will erode and inequities will deepen,” the MAV says. “Transformation is not optional – it is urgent and possible.”

In the west

So the advocacy group, LeadWest is gunna be kind of busy this year. The 2007 alliance of Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Wyndham and Melton councils got together at the end of last year to work out what to push for when the state government is at its most … um … receptive (what your correspondent means is, Jacinta and her team will be reapplying for the top Victorian job in November).

So with that in mind, LeadWest launched its ‘Advocacy Priorities’ at the beginning of the year. And they’re, well let’s say … ambitious (?)

What LeadWest wants specifically is:

The State Government to commit to funding more Mental Health Service Hubs across the west and investment in specialist alcohol and other drug and mental health outreach services “to respond to increasing complexity and unmet needs in the region”.
The State and Federal governments to buy land for the Outer Metropolitan Ringroad and Rail project and “make a financial commitment” to build it with timelines for delivery. LeadWest also wants $20 million for a “detailed business case” to assess the project’s pros and cons, and an “outer western roads package” for the project to widen roads and upgrade intersections on arterial roads in the western suburbs.
The State Government to construct the Melbourne Airport Rail ahead of the Airport’s third runway and a timeline for implementing the Sunshine Station Masterplan “to minimise overall disruption” and “maximise broader investment” during construction.
The State Government to prioritise the Western Intermodal Freight Terminal (WIFT), including protecting land at Truganina for when the WIFT is needed.
The State Government to commit funding to support the construction phase of a large-scale cultural venue in Footscray, including a regional performing arts centre, a library, creative arts and cultural spaces and an interactive open space/civic green.
The State Government to commit a financial contribution to building the Wetlands Centre in Altona Meadows, including an eco-tourism hub, research facilities, indoor and outdoor public spaces, a café and accessible walking trails and boardwalks.
And … ongoing funding for “more shade” and “green space”.

It’s a big ask, and there are some out there who think Leadwest is a “bureaucratic Unicorn” that “promises the world” but can “only deliver committee meetings”.

On its Facebook page in August, Council Watch Victoria claimed the “noble mission” – to strengthen our local economies, support sustainable population growth, improve transport connectivity and “scale up our community services” – was “mostly” a “really enthusiastic PowerPoint slideshow”.

But we shall see. The LeadWest committee is led by Maribyrnong’s Cr Susan Yengi, with Hobsons Bay’s Cr Rayane Hawli as her deputy, and includes Wyndham’s Cr Mia Shaw, Brimbank’s Lucy Nguyen and Melton’s Cr Phillip Zada.

All the CEOs are there – Fiona Blair from Brimbank, Celia Haddock from Maribyrnong, Kerry Thompson from Hobsons Bay, Stephen Wall from Wyndham and Roslyn Wai from Melton.