Hobsons Bay May Meeting
“Pride and relief” after “prolonged uncertainty and frustration”.
By Josie Vine
Mechanics Institute
The long-suffering Save Our Mechanics Institute group was in the gallery to hear council approving another feasibility review and business case for the restoration of the 1860 Mechanics Institute building.
Architectural designs were prepared for the site’s restoration in 2019, but council did not allocate funding, and the project was put on hold. According to Cr Micael Disbury, these discarded designs cost $400,000.
Council has now endorsed progressing with new concept and schematic design for “minimal change” which includes a studio space in the main hall, a return of the Williamstown Historical Society, shared exhibition and gallery space and a multi-purpose function space in the Supper Room.
Cr Lisa Bentley said she felt “pride” and “relief” to see the proposal before council after a “prolonged period” of “uncertainty, frustration and delay”.
“For many in our community this building is far more than bricks and mortar,” she said. “It is part of Williamstown’s story, it is part of our shared heritage, civic identity and collective memory.”
Council CEO, Phu Nguyen said it was “very difficult” to put a “finite amount” on how much the preferred option was going to cost, but “previous exercises” had been in the “six figure range”.
Council’s next step is to get quotes on the required work and, if quotes are more than $1 million, the redevelopment designs will come back to council.
Sports and recreation fees and allocation policy
Well, the proposal to increase sports and recreation fees has stirred up a bit of a tizz.
Almost half of the 21 questions asked of council at last month’s meeting concerned the proposal to increase fees by up-to 130 percent over four years.
Community engagement on the draft policy closed on 27 April. Feedback is currently being reviewed before the draft policy goes to council for decision.
Wren street development
The Wren street development looks like it’s gunna go ahead. At least Hobsons Bay Council is going to tell VCAT that it supports the application.
The controversial recommendation to support the five three-story dwellings on Wren Street in Altona comes after a series of three moving speeches addressed to council in April.
After hearing about loss of privacy, damage to the natural environments around Wren Street and a “soul sucking” lack of consultation (amid several rounds of applause from the gallery), council deferred the decision to the next meeting.
There was a Compulsory Conference held in May 2026, where the applicant circulated draft revised plans which sought to address concerns raised by the objectors.
As a result, the latest recommendation to support the application came with several conditions around screening, landscaping, drainage and carparking.
Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club
Well now that the decision on the Williamstown Swimming and Life Saving Club development has been handed over to the state government, Hobsons Bay Council has given all community objections to the Department of Transport and Planning.
New Servo on Douglas Parade
There’s going to be a new servo built on Douglas Parade, just opposite Williamstown Grammar School, after council voted unanimously to support its planning permit.
This is despite receiving more than 15 objections to the proposal.
But Cr Lisa Bentley said the Douglas Parade site had been “derelict” and “underutilised” for “many years”.
“Its abandoned condition has not served the community well,” she said. “It has negatively affected local amenities, contributed to poor perceptions of safety and distracted from the visual quality of this prominent site.”
As a result of the objections, the permit was endorsed subject to conditions, including changes to vehicle access, restriction of operating hours and delivery times, and “noise mitigation measures”.
Social Housing on Bronte Court
Council is supporting the development of 91 homes in three four-storey buildings on Bronte Court.
The Council Agenda said the proposal exceeds height restrictions and was “contrary” to the Neighbourhood Residential Zone and Heritage Overlay. But it does align with state planning objectives – including the Plan for Victoria and Victorian Housing Statement – and with Council policy outlined in the Affordable Housing Policy (2023) and Hobsons Bay Housing Strategy (2019).
Cr Lisa Bentley said council had “concerns” about overdevelopment and lack of car parking spaces. But, she said, the development gave “displaced” residents a “chance” to “come back home” after the recent demolition of 41 dwellings on the site.
Council will be putting its concerns around carparking and height restrictions to the state government.
BRIMBANK MAY MEETING
Childcare centre voted for “with a heavy heart”.
By Josie Vine
You’re joking right? Seriously? Not one member of the public (that’s us) submitted a question to be read out and answered at this last Brimbank Council meeting. And there’s so much to ask!
What about the Transport Strategy?
What about the Draft Budget?
What about the early designs for the Sunshine Superhub?
What about the ‘Four Bin’ policy?
And, what’s more, what about the plan to build another childcare centre in the Oldfield Street area that was tabled at last month’s meeting for endorsement?
The childcare centre is proposed to take in 40 children and 10 staff in the busy Oldfield Street area, opposite Sunshine Heights Primary School, just behind Bardsley street. The site is also near Sunshine Heights Kindergarten and Sunshine College.
Council was recently in VCAT, opposing plans to build a separate childcare centre for 120 children in Bardsley Street, which is just behind the Oldfield site. VCAT approved this planning application.
In speaking against the motion, Cr Lucy Ngyen said she had been in contact with residents from Oldfield street, Main street, Bardley Street and surrounding roads who had “raised concerns” about the plan to develop a second childcare centre in an already built-up area.
“Residents have consistently told us their concerns centre on road safety, cumulative traffic impacts and parking pressures in an area already under strain,” she said.
Cr Ngyen said residents had particular safety concerns for children walking to and from school. “What happens when school drop off coincides with three separate childcare peak periods,” she said.
But Cr Daniel Kruk said there was “nothing” in the planning legislation that could help him “turn down” the application.
Cr Kruk said he had run the rejection motion for the previous application for the Bardsley Street childcare centre, which VCAT later overruled.
He said if council rejected the Oldfield street childcare planning application it would “just be at a big cost” to ratepayers.
Cr Kruk said he had been quoted $40,000 to fight a “David and Goliath battle”, which “we would lose”.
“I really need to weigh up the interests of the community,” he said. “In this case tonight, with a heavy heart, I encourage all councillors to vote for the motion.”
But Cr Katharine Nikolic said Sunshine West was in a “childcare desert”, and had residents express concerns about the lack of childcare places in the area.
The planning application was approved eight votes to one.
In other news:
- Council will receive a further report on implementing the State Government’s ‘Four Bin’ strategy, amid “volume” and “intensity” of community feedback.
- Council received a 35-signature petition from 35 petitioners, requesting the removal of a troublesome gum tree in front of 24 Pilain Crescent, Keilor Downs.
- Council received a Planning Activity Update from April 2026.
- Council received its 2026 Governance Report.
- Council received its Q3 Budget Progress Report
- Council received its annual Finance Report.
For all reports please see: https://www.brimbank.vic.gov.au/about-council/your-council/agendas-and-minutes/council-meetings-2026
Maribyrnong May Meeting
By Maya Malavisi and Zoe Taylor – RMIT student journalism
This week’s monthly meeting was short, snappy, and sweet (just how we like it).
It began with a question from a resident about the safety assessments council used to approve the Coronation Street closure and plans to redevelop Beever Reserve’s.
In response the council’s Director of Infrastructure said an independent traffic assessment of the closure was prepared and is available on the council’s website.
When asked why council supported the plans for Beever’s Reserve despite community opposition the director of infrastructure claimed “it wasn’t clear one way or another in terms of opposition.”
He said council officers undertook a “rigorous engagement process” considering the needs of the street and the broader neighbourhood.
Time for a segue!
The Yarraville Oval Master Plan received enthusiastic support from the majority of councillors, except Councillor Bernadette Thomas who mentioned hesitations.
Yarraville Oval hosts cricket, footy, and events held by Yarraville West Primary School and has received funding through the State Government and Council to test the feasibility of housing a cricket training facility on site.
Cr PradeepTiwari said, “it helps secure the long-term future of cricket at this historic ground” and “strengthens the pathway for local juniors to move into senior sport.”
He said the plan “supports the idea of a proper multi-purpose facility” which will make much better use of the community infrastructure.
Cr Samantha Meredith and Cr Elena Pereyra both said council welcomes feedback on the plan and said it would be beneficial for the public to “get involved and have a look at the plan and have your say.”
However Cr Thomas was “a little less enthusiastic about this design” and said it “overlooks some things” and takes “over social recreation space for sporting space”.
She also referenced the contaminated soil that Maribyrnong Council regularly encounters with projects but doesn’t stop them from continuing.
Cr Thomas also criticised the proposal to replace turf surfaces with synthetic ones saying they will “add to the urban heat island within our city.”
In other news:
- The council endorsed the release of the draft Raleigh Street Park Landscape Concept Plan, for community engagement, and requested a further report and final concept plan for consideration following the community engagement process
- The council noted the comprehensive recruitment process undertaken for the role of Independent Advisor to the CEO Employment Matters Committee, appointing the preferred candidate, and thanked the previous Independent Advisor for their significant contribution.
- The council acknowledged that the Footscray riverside precinct is facing growing traffic and movement pressures due to increasing development of residential complexes, local businesses, schools, and community facilities in the area. Council requested a future report on how to improve movement and safety across the precinct through community consultation and traffic engineering advice.
- Council asked the CEO to prepare a high-level report into whether the closed section of Albert Street near the former Forges Dimmeys site in Footscray could eventually be reopened to the public. The report would examine legal ownership, responsibilities for the bridge structure, possible liabilities, and any restrictions affecting the site. It would also explore long-term and temporary options for reopening the road, including improved traffic flow, cycling connections, greening projects, and public space upgrades aligned with the Footscray CBD Place Plan.
Wyndham Meeting May 2026
By Jack Sutton – RMIT student journalism
It was a near empty chamber for the Wyndham City Council meeting this month as pressure on Mayor Cr Preet Singh to resign continues to build.
Only two members of the council attended the meeting – Cr Josh Gilligan and Cr Shannon McGuire. The remaining councillors elected to watch on and contribute via Zoom.
In April this year Wyndham councillors passed a vote of no confidence in Cr Singh and called for his resignation after it was revealed he’d provided a character reference for a convicted child sex offender. Cr Singh maintains he’s done nothing illegal and has said he refuses to be “bullied”.
Despite public outrage and two municipal monitors being appointed to oversee governance in Wyndham City, Cr Singh firmly remains in the mayoral seat.
Another protest calling for his resignation is being organised for June, with residents of the community set to march from John Lister’s Electorate Office to the Wedge St Piazza.
As for other council matters – despite all the controversy around Cr Singh, a report shows that overall community satisfaction in Wyndham remains steady, and at some levels, exceeds the standards that have been set in the past.
