Northern Metro Region · and the northern region’s communities to work together The Northern Metro Region Five Year Plan for Jobs, ... projected to grow by around 13 per cent over

Northern Metro Region

Northern Metro RegionFive Year Plan for Jobs, Services and Infrastructure 2018–2022

© The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2018

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1Northern Metro Region Five Year Plan

Aboriginal acknowledgement

The Victorian Government proudly acknowledges Victoria’s Aboriginal community and their rich culture and pays respect to their Elders past and present.

We acknowledge Aboriginal people as Australia’s first peoples and as the Traditional Owners and custodians of the land and water on which we rely. We recognise and value the ongoing contribution of Aboriginal people and communities to Victorian life and how this enriches us.

We embrace the spirit of reconciliation, working towards the equality of outcomes and ensuring an equal voice.

Office for Suburban Development

2 Northern Metro Region Five Year Plan

Introduction 4

Your Northern Metro Region 5

Northern Metro Region snapshot 8

Putting community at the centre 10

Metropolitan Development Advisory Panel 10

Metropolitan Partnership Development Fund 10

The Northern Metro Region – Land Use Framework Plan 11

Investment overview 13

Pick My Project 21

Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution 22

Growing Suburbs Fund 23

Victorian Government election commitments 24

Appendix 1: Northern Metropolitan Partnership – Membership 28

Appendix 2: Victorian Government Response to the Northern Metropolitan Partnership Priorities 2017 30

Appendix 3: Glossary 40

Contents



This year’s Northern Metro Region Five Year Plan provides an update on the northern region’s growing population and economy, and outlines the Government’s investments from the Victorian Budget 2018/19 to support jobs and deliver infrastructure and services in the region over the next five years.

New sections in this year’s Plan include:

• a report on the advice provided by the newly formed Northern Metropolitan Partnership on priorities for enhancing the northern region’s economy and liveability

• the Government’s response to the Partnership’s advice, including details on the response to each of the Partnership’s priority actions

• a report on the joint development of the Northern Metro Region’s Land Use Framework Plan by the Government and northern region councils, creating a shared understanding across all levels of government and the community about future population and employment growth, and housing and land use needs

• details on new government initiatives designed to strengthen metropolitan regional development and engage with communities in identifying and delivering local infrastructure and services , such as the $30 million Pick My Project program.

By bringing together this information at the metropolitan regional level, the Northern Metro Region Five Year Plan will assist all levels of government and the northern region’s communities to work together to identify challenges and opportunities, and develop new ways to enhance liveability and prosperity.

By bringing together this information at the metropolitan regional level, the Northern Metro Region Five Year Plan will assist all levels of government and the northern region’s communities to work together

The Northern Metro Region Five Year Plan for Jobs, Services and Infrastructure 2018–2022 outlines the Victorian Government’s ongoing commitment to Melbourne’s northern region.

Introduction



Your Northern Metro Region The Northern Metro Region spans six Local Government Areas (LGAs): the inner LGAs of Moreland, Darebin and Banyule; and the outer growth and interface LGAs of Hume, Nillumbik and Whittlesea. The region includes a portion of Mitchell Shire within Melbourne’s Urban Growth Boundary, with the towns of Wallan and Beveridge.

The Northern Metro Region is one of Melbourne’s largest, with a population of more than 978,900 residents – approximately 20 per cent of metropolitan Melbourne’s total population. Its population is projected to grow by around 13 per cent over the five years to 2021, reaching more than 1.1 million residents by 2022

The northern region includes some of Melbourne’s most strategically important infrastructure such as the Melbourne Airport and the Hume Highway – and plays a major role as one of Melbourne’s key economic regions and gateway to Australia’s national economy.

Broadmeadows, Epping and Lockerbie are the region’s designated Metropolitan Activity Centres. These are underpinned by 21 Major Activity Centres.

Together these locations contain significant concentrations of private, government and community sector jobs and services – and are critical to meeting the employment, service and infrastructure needs of the region’s growing population.

Accommodating this growth requires support to revitalise established suburbs and to expand local services and infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing population. Timely delivery of infrastructure and services in the region’s newest outer suburbs will be critical to its success.



Population Households Housing mix

• 978,900 residents

• 20 per cent of metropolitan Melbourne’s total population

• projected to grow by 126,500 residents over the five years to 2022

• key growth areas include Craigieburn, Mernda, Sunbury South, Wallan and Wollert

• 124,000 couples with children

• 81,000 couples without children

• 74,000 lone-person households

• 39,000 one-parent families

Regional housing mix as at June 2016:

• 12,413 apartments of three or more storeys

• 249,593 separate houses

• 79,833 townhouses/flats/small apartments

Industry and business Key employment centres Employment

Top five employing industries:

• manufacturing

• retail trade

• health care and social assistance

• transport, postal and warehousing

• education and training

• Melbourne Airport

• Melbourne Market in Epping

• La Trobe National Employment and Innovation Cluster (NEIC)

• Northern Industrial Precinct

• health and education precincts in Heidelberg, Epping and Craigieburn

• 272,647 jobs in 2016

• 12 per cent of all jobs in metropolitan Melbourne

• more than a quarter of all jobs in the region are in health care, social assistance and manufacturing

• 6.9 per cent unemployment rate, 0.8 percentage points higher than the metropolitan average

Future employment growth Regional strengths Regional Challenges/Opportunities

Employment in the Northern Metro Region is projected to increase by an additional 26,600 jobs by 2022:

• 8,100 additional jobs in health care and social assistance

• 4,000 additional jobs in education and training

• 3,900 additional jobs in construction

• 3,800 additional jobs in professional, scientific and technical services

• 2,700 additional jobs in retail trade

• transport and logistics infrastructure and services

• industrial land supply

• growing food processing, pharmaceuticals and advanced manufacturing industries

• diversity and affordability of housing options

• transition from traditional manufacturing to knowledge-based industries

• revitalisation of major activity centres

• creating employment opportunities for young people

• enhancing regional connectivity with public transport and active transport

• enhancing environmental assets and people’s connection to green space

The Northern Metro Region has played a major role in accommodating Melbourne’s recent period of population growth and has done so against a backdrop of significant change and transformation in its industry structure, employment and demographic profile. Future population projections and industry trends suggest Melbourne’s north will continue to undergo significant growth and change as it transitions from traditional manufacturing to a more diverse and technology-focused industry base.

Northern Metro Region snapshot



The Northern Metropolitan Partnership

The Northern Metropolitan Partnership was established in June 2017. Membership includes eight community and business representatives, the CEO of each local council in the region and a Deputy Secretary from the Victorian Government (Appendix 1).

Over its first 12 months of operation, the Northern Metropolitan Partnership has consulted regional stakeholders and community leaders to identify opportunities for driving improved outcomes for the region and its suburbs. This included hosting its inaugural annual assembly of regional community and business leaders on 25 October 2017 to assist in developing its advice to government.

In communicating its priorities to the Government, the Northern Metropolitan Partnership outlined its vision for communities to have ‘opportunities and access to work within the northern region, to be connected to the environment, have access to lifelong learning, improved health and wellbeing, where our young people feel connected and have access to jobs, and our rich cultural diversity thrives’.

The Partnership’s priority outcomes cover five principal themes, with specific actions that the Partnership believes should be progressed by government:

• Economy and Transport – Support a connected, thriving community with jobs created in the region, unemployment rates lowered and congestion eased to create greater liveability

• Education pathways – Support a seamless approach to lifelong learning, resulting in a more skilled, work-ready, employed, resilient and connected community

• Environment – Improve connection to the natural environment through recreational trails and increased use of cycling and walking

• Connected young people – Enable young people to have a voice, feel connected to communities, be healthy, respected and ensure diversity thrives by establishing a youth congress for the region, led by young people

• Health and wellbeing – Prevent avoidable hospital admissions and improve health and wellbeing through increased access to affordable health and community services that cater to the north’s culturally diverse community.

The Government has responded positively to the Partnership’s vision and advice on priority actions with commitments such as:

• $2.2 billion to duplicate and upgrade key arterial roads in Melbourne, including roads in the Northern Metro Region

• $1 million for cycling and hiking trails priority projects identified in the Northern Regional Trails Strategy

• $400,000 in funding for Melbourne’s North Food Group to support the growth of more than 400 businesses to enhance business connections, expand access to export markets and develop workers’ skills

• $200,000 in the Victorian Budget 2018/19 to support the development of a new project to better connect young people in Melbourne’s north with employment

• securing the site for the Brunswick Incubator through LaunchVic’s Supporting Local Council Startup Communities program and a partnership with Moreland Council.

Full details of the Partnership’s 2017 advice and the response from the Government are at Appendix 2. The Northern Partnership has also submitted its 2018 advice to the Government. The Government has already commenced considering this advice and will be providing a detailed response through the 2019 Northern Metropolitan Five Year Plan.





Building on its establishment of Metropolitan Partnerships to involve communities in determining local priorities, the Government has launched additional initiatives in the Suburban Development portfolio that will strengthen our focus on supporting the northern region and engaging with its communities to identify and deliver innovative local infrastructure, services and programs.

Metropolitan Development Advisory Panel

In late 2017, the Minister for Suburban Development and Minister for Planning jointly established the Metropolitan Development Advisory Panel (MDAP).

The role of MDAP is to provide expert advice to the Ministers on metropolitan development, including the implementation of Plan Melbourne 2017–2050, Metropolitan Partnership priorities and advice on enhancing Melbourne’s liveability, sustainability and international competitiveness at the whole-of-city level.

The panel includes the six chairpersons of the Metropolitan Partnerships and four members with broad skills and expertise in planning and related fields such as economic and community development.

MDAP will play a key role in keeping the Government informed about the impact of planning policies and population growth on regional communities. The panel will help the Government identify practical solutions to managing Melbourne’s growth and maintaining the city’s liveability. It will also ensure that Metropolitan Partnerships are supported to engage and play an active role in shaping the delivery of policies critical to Melbourne’s future growth and development.

Metropolitan Partnership Development Fund

As part of the Victorian Budget 2018/19, the Government has established a new $2 million Metropolitan Partnerships Development Fund.

This fund will be used to support the implementation of responses to the advice provided by Metropolitan Partnerships. It will provide seed funding for program pilots, feasibility studies and business cases to progress Metropolitan Partnership priority actions.

Administered by the Office for Suburban Development, funding will be allocated annually across Melbourne’s six partnership regions over the next two years. Funding allocations for 2018–19 will be developed as part of the Government’s response to priorities identified by the Northern Region Metropolitan Partnership.

Putting community at the centre

The Victorian Government is focused on putting communities at the centre of what we do, including making sure local residents have a greater say in determining local priorities.



The Northern Metro Region – Land Use Framework Plan

Plan Melbourne 2017–2050 recognises the importance of a regional approach to planning for our city and suburbs.

Action 1 in the Plan Melbourne Implementation Plan requires the development of a Land Use Framework Plan (LUFP) for each of the six metropolitan regions. The LUFPs will be forward-focused to ensure that each region has a plan to provide for the population growth and change that is projected to occur over the next 30 years. It will mean that state and local government, working together, can be clear about how best to develop land and what supporting networks and infrastructure will be needed when and where.

The LUFPs will provide a means to ensure that our suburbs are planned holistically, that we provide not only enough suitable housing, but also set aside land for employment, community spaces and parks, while protecting our natural environment. The LUFPs, developed in consultation with Metropolitan Partnerships, will inform the strategies and initiatives in future releases of the Five Year Plans for Jobs, Services and Infrastructure.

The benefits of planning at a regional scale across metropolitan Melbourne include:

• bridging the gap between metropolitan and local government strategic plans by delivering a single regional view

• providing the strategic planning basis for identifying future infrastructure, service and funding priorities

• clearly defining a land use framework within which each council can prepare their municipal strategies and policies

• ongoing partnership and collaboration between state and local government.

The LUFPs build upon existing strategic work undertaken by state and local government to deliver a regional picture through an integrated partnership approach.

The Northern Metro Region is expected to grow from 978,900 in 2017, to approximately 1.82 million by 2050. This growth will need to be accommodated in both established and growth areas, and be supported by an expansion of local jobs, the provision of infrastructure, access to services and a quality environment.

Driven by the Economy and Planning Working Groups (EPWG) that have been established for each region, state and local government officers have

collated existing planning strategies and policies to understand what is important to the Northern Metro Region, including its strengths and opportunities. Strengths of the Northern Metro Region identified include:

• the La Trobe NEIC has regionally important health, education, retail and commercial assets and will deliver significant employment growth, connect allied industries and provide more housing close to jobs.

• the region is a major hub for the food and beverage industry, including production, innovation and research driven by the Melbourne Market and La Trobe University’s established food and agriculture capability.

• the region is Victoria’s interstate and international gateway, providing strategic connections through Melbourne Airport, the Hume Freeway and the Melbourne-Sydney-Brisbane rail line, and its significant freight and logistics hubs.

• the region has a diversity of housing choices from greenfield growth corridors, to emerging urban renewal precincts and established inner and suburban areas.

• regional landscapes, characterised by the network of creek corridors, the Yarra River and River RedGums, provide improved amenity, and promote social cohesion.



Feedback received to date indicate there are opportunities in the region for:

• transitioning from the strong manufacturing and traditional working-class history towards highly skilled jobs in well-connected and distinct employment nodes

• creating an airport link which provides connections to the east and west as well as the CBD to transform the Melbourne Airport into an employment magnet, accelerating job growth

• improving east-west public and active transport to better connect activity centres, allied industries and the La Trobe NEIC, and diversifying road use across the region to support various transport options and protect principal freight routes

• valuing industrial and employment land, including the future growth of commercial floor space in activity centres such as Epping, Broadmeadows and Coburg, and protecting it from incompatible development

• providing affordable, accessible and flexible spaces to support the creative precincts in Brunswick, Northcote and surrounds

• clearly defining densities across residential areas and championing high quality and sustainable design in developments to positively and proactively shape the future character of the region

• new suburbs in growth areas delivering on the 20-minute neighbourhood principles by providing a diversity of housing and jobs close to everyday services

• exploring local community values in green wedge land management, while protecting landscape, environmental and cultural significance

• expanding the network of green spaces and waterways to improve biodiversity links, active transport connections and resilience to climate change.

Next steps

The implementation partners for the LUFP project include the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP); the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR); the Department of Transport (DoT); the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); the Department of Education and Training (DET); the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA); and the local councils of the region. Collectively, they will work to expand on the scoping work undertaken to date to prepare a draft LUFP which delivers a regional picture of the issues, opportunities and aspirations of the region. The Government will continue working with local and regional partners to develop draft plans for consultation.

.

These investments are based on the Government’s long-term strategic plans for strengthening the economy and liveability of Victoria and managing Melbourne’s continued growth and development as a globally connected city.

This section provides an overview of:

• Major investments in services and infrastructure in the Northern Metro Region contained in the Victorian Budget 2018/19;

• Pick My Project grants to strengthen the liveability of local areas announced for the Northern Metro Region;

• Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution funds for the Northern Metro Region growth area LGAs of Hume and Whittlesea;

• Growing Suburbs Fund grants for community infrastructure in the Northern Metro Region LGAs of Hume, Nillumbik, Whittlesea and Mitchell; and

• Election commitments made in the November 2018 state election to improve outcomes for people in the Northern Metro Region.

Investment overview

The Victorian Government is responding to the growing needs of Melbourne’s Northern Metro Region by investing in local services and infrastructure.



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JOBS

The Victorian Government is focused on supporting and driving economic development, investment and job creation across the state, and is committed to projects, industries and ideas that will encourage small businesses to grow and big businesses to invest. The Northern Metro Region will benefit from funding provided in the Victorian Budget 2018/19 including a $21 million boost for Jobs Victoria.

$10 million to extend the Premier’s Jobs and Investment Fund to support the Government’s economic development priorities to build a strong economy, improve economic growth and create more jobs.

$6 million statewide to increase employment inclusion on Victoria’s major projects through a new dedicated services to connect young people from Aboriginal and migrant communities and women into jobs on Victoria’s major projects, including roles generated by the Major Projects Skills Guarantee.

$5 million statewide for a new specialised employment support program to be established for long-term unemployed youth and young people facing significant barriers to employment.

TRANSPORT

The Victorian Government is delivering a massive pipeline of transport infrastructure projects, including removing level crossings, building the Metro Tunnel, building the West Gate Tunnel, widening City Link and the Tullamarine Freeway, streamlining Hoddle Street, upgrading the M80 Ring Road, delivering Stage 1 of the Monash Freeway Upgrade, and completion of the Mernda Rail Extension.

$2.2 billion for arterial road upgrades in the northern and south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

• Childs Road, from Beaumont Crescent to Prince of Wales Avenue, Mill Park

• Craigieburn Road, from Mickleham Road to Hume Highway, Craigieburn

• Epping Road, from Craigieburn Road to Memorial Avenue, Epping

• Sunbury Road, from Bulla-Diggers Rest Road to Powlett Street, Sunbury

• Yan Yean Road from Kurrak Road, Yarrambat, to Bridge Inn Road, Doreen

• Bridge Inn Road, from Plenty Road to Yan Yean Road, Doreen

• Fitzsimons Lane in Templestowe and Eltham.



Victorian Budget 2018/19 – Northern Metropolitan Region Outcomes

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$110 million for North East Link for development to procurement of the project, which will establish a motorway connection between the M80 Ring Road and the Eastern Freeway. The new six-lane, 11 kilometre motorway will include a tunnel beneath environmentally sensitive areas and interchanges at Bulleen Road, Manningham Road, Lower Plenty Road and Grimshaw Street. Local access along key arterial roads such as Greensborough Road and Greensborough Bypass will be maintained and remain toll-free. The project also includes a major upgrade of the Eastern Freeway between Chandler Highway and Springvale Road, which will remain toll-free, and a new dedicated busway facility between the Doncaster Park and Ride and Hoddle Street. The $7-$9 billion Primary Package of works and the $200 million Early Works Package were put out to market at the end of November.

$89.4 million for additional train services including those on the Hurstbridge and South Morang lines following the completion of the Mernda Rail Extension and the Hurstbridge line upgrade.

$60 million for more than 2,000 car parks to be upgraded and built at key train stations, including Craigieburn and Epping. This will improve amenity and provide more options to access train stations and encourage the increased uptake of public transport.

$22.7 million for priority active transport projects to promote safety and increased use of Victoria’s cycling and walking network. Projects include: bike lanes, paths and trails at the Upfield bike path, Cumberland Road in Pascoe Vale, Brunswick Road, Diamond Creek to Hurstbridge, Burgundy Street in Heidelberg.

EDUCATION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD

The Victorian Government is responding to the growing demand for student places in the Northern Metro Region by investing to build new schools and to modernise and upgrade existing secondary and primary schools.

$271.7 million to acquire land for new schools across Victoria including for Hume and Whittlesea in the northern region.




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$82 million to upgrade 21 schools in the Northern Metro Region. This will improve educational outcomes through providing high-quality classrooms and facilities for learning and community use.

• Banyule Primary School

• Brunswick South West Primary School

• Bundoora Primary School

• Diamond Valley College

• Epping Secondary College

• Gladstone Park Primary School

• Greenhills Primary School

• Ivanhoe Primary School

• Lalor Gardens Primary School

• Moreland Primary School

• Pascoe Vale Girls Secondary College

• Pascoe Vale Primary School

• Reservoir East Primary School

• Roxburgh College

• St Helena Secondary College

• Sunbury Heights Primary School

• Sunbury Primary School

• Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School (Sunbury Campus)

• Northern School For Autism

• Northern College of the Arts and Technology

• Charles La Trobe P-12 College

$66.4 million to deliver new schools and additional stages of school buildings to meet growing demand from Victoria’s strong population growth. In the Northern Metro Region this includes new schools:

• Beveridge West Primary School

• Craigieburn South Secondary School.

Additional school buildings:

• Aitken Hill Primary School

• Preston High School

• Ashley Park Primary School.




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More than ever, the skills we need to build our state are learned at TAFE – and with good-quality training, young Victorians will be first in line for these new jobs. The cost of TAFE should never stop kids from getting the skills they need – that’s why the Government will transform Victoria’s skills and training sector by investing statewide:

• $304 million to provide new training places to train more Victorians to meet industry demand for trained graduates that are critical to Victoria’s economic prosperity. This investment will fund our TAFEs, Learn Locals and private training organisations to deliver more than 30,000 additional training places

• $172 million to make training at TAFE free for 30 priority courses, commencing 1 January 2019

• $109 million to overhaul careers education in secondary schools so students can get expert advice earlier to help them to make the right choices

• $49.8 million to improve vocational education by introducing Head Start Apprenticeships and Traineeships to give secondary school students the opportunity to learn a trade at school and get a job sooner

• $43.8 million to modernise apprenticeships with new training material, independent final assessments and to bring back trade papers to recognise qualifications.

Mental Health in Schools. Every Victorian Government Secondary School will have access to a mental health professional with $51.2 million to allow schools across the state to employ over 190 qualified mental health professionals.

COMMUNITY SAFETY

Since 2015, the Victorian Government has made record investments to reduce crime and make communities safer by recruiting police, addressing family violence and strengthening our emergency services. This year’s Budget includes new investments that strengthen the justice system and prevent crime.

$390.7 million statewide to better support children who need to go into out of home care with more home-based care placements and better support for carers.

$282.6 million statewide to support vulnerable children and their families. This includes:

• $225.5 million to better assist children in the statutory child protection system through an extra 450 child protection practitioners

• $7.7 million in 2018–19 to cover civil claims costs for historical institutional child abuse

• $49.9 million for family violence therapeutic and flexible support, including approximately 6,500 flexible support packages to enable victim survivors of family violence to access counselling and therapeutic supports to aid recovery.




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$96.9 million for Victoria Police prosecutors and $21.8 million to equip the Office of Public Prosecutions to prosecute serious crimes and hold offenders to account.

$27.7 million for twenty-four hour, seven days a week refuge responses for victims of family violence to provide secure, after-hours crisis accommodation for women and children seeking immediate support.

$25 million statewide for local crime prevention initiatives including youth crime prevention projects, the Public Safety Infrastructure and Community Safety funds, and crime prevention agencies such as Crime Stoppers and Neighbourhood Watch.

$3.9 million for a Family Drug Treatment Court at Broadmeadows to continue to support a more effective response to drug and alcohol dependent parents, and support family reunification where children are placed in out-of-home care due to parental alcohol and drug dependency.

HEALTH, HOUSING AND WELLBEING

The Victorian Government is continuing to build a high-quality, proactive health and human service system. Building on the government’s major investments in hospitals, we are making further investments in our health workforce, boosting access to mental health services, expanding alcohol and drug treatment and early intervention services, and improving ambulance response times. The Victorian Government also continues to have a strong focus on affordable housing and addressing homelessness, with record investment in housing and homelessness support, as well as financial backing for new forms of social housing investment across the state.

Victorian Budget 2018/19 will provide $2.1 billion, supporting the 1.96 million patients expected to be admitted to our hospitals, and the 1.84 million patients to be seen in our emergency departments, this year.

More than 207,000 Victorians will get the surgery they need sooner, with a $217.6 million elective surgery blitz to cut down waiting times and lists. This is equivalent to nearly 14,370 hip replacements or more than 76,000 eye surgeries.

Budget funding will also help meet the growing demand on our health and ambulance services, giving patients the emergency care they need, when they need it.

• $25 million for a Better Care Victoria Innovation Fund to help the sector identify, scale and embed innovation effectively

• $6.7 million to deliver immunisation programs that tackle meningococcal and influenza

• $217.6 million elective surgery blitz to cut down waiting times and lists.

• $2.1 million for more rural and regional patients to access support through the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme$6.5 million to respond to people’s end-of-life care choices.




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$705 million for more mental health support, extra regional rehabilitation facilities and new emergency department crisis hubs to help Victorians struggling with mental illness:

• $232.4 million to support 89 new and existing acute inpatient beds and boost the number of treatment hours in community-based services, giving around 12,800 more Victorians the care they require

• $100.5 million in six emergency department crisis hubs across the state, including Monash Medical Centre to help people with urgent mental health, alcohol and drug issues.

• $18.7 million to support the development of six new Hospital Outreach Post-Suicidal Engagement sites

• $153.8 million to provide intensive community mental health services and support for current high-need mental health clients.

$32.6 million statewide for caring for the ageing including:

$6 million for an elder abuse family counselling and mediation service.

$45 million for the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Plan. Initiatives include 20 one-bedroom modular units with intensive onsite support, multidisciplinary housing teams to support complex clients to maintain stable housing, eight additional assertive outreach teams in locations of highest need, and funding therapeutic services in major inner city crisis accommodation centres to improve health, wellbeing and housing outcomes.

CULTURE AND RECREATION

The Northern Metro Region offers a variety of cultural, sport and recreation infrastructure and programs with a network of regional and local tracks and trails, parks and aquatic and leisure facilities. The Victorian Government is ensuring that new and existing sport and recreation facilities meet the demand generated by population growth in the established inner north, as well as new communities across Hume, Whittlesea and Mitchell.

$67 million for a professional women’s sports fund that will be used to develop or upgrade a number of facilities for professional women’s sport across Melbourne, including $12 million for the Rugby League State Centre of Excellence in Broadmeadows.

$60 million statewide for the Community Sports Infrastructure Fund to provide grants to local government to build new or improve existing infrastructure, increase access and participation and deliver new infrastructure to meet current and future demand in growth areas.




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$50 million for the Growing Suburbs fund to boost the number of community infrastructure projects delivered in Melbourne’s interface councils including Hume, Mitchell, Nillumbik and Whittlesea.

$15 million statewide for female-friendly facilities to provide grants for developing community pavilions, playing grounds, courts and lighting, to ensure women and girls can access appropriate community sporting facilities.

$3 million for an arts and cultural precinct at Jacksons Hill. Funding will be provided, in partnership with Hume City Council, to implement the first stage of the community arts precinct at Jacksons Hill.

$1 million to construct priority trails from the Northern Regional Trails Strategy.

LIVEABLE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

The health of Melbourne’s natural environment contributes to the liveability of our suburbs. The Victorian Government is working on innovative integrated planning approaches to protect open space in the Northern Metro Region including at Sunbury and Lancefield and along the Yarra River.

$48 million statewide to help Victorians bust their energy bills. Through the Power Saving Bonus, all Victorian households will be eligible to receive a $50 bonus if they seek out a better electricity deal on the Government’s Victorian Energy Compare website.

$37 million to implement the Recycling Industry Strategic Plan, which will transition Victoria’s recycling sector to a more sustainable and resilient model. This includes a $13 million assistance package to help councils and industry to respond to changed market conditions in the short term.

$3.2 million statewide to improve the use and environmental health of priority waterways and storages. This will support greater community access to, and use of, key waterways, storages and recreational fishing locations.

$1.25 million to implement the next steps of the Government’s Yarra River Action Plan. The initiative will finalise the Yarra strategic plan, which will introduce stronger planning controls along the Yarrato help preserve the natural landscape along the Yarra corridor.

$0.3 million for a metropolitan open space strategy to adopt a proactive and strategic approach to open space and park planning, taking into consideration forecast population growth, dwelling numbers and open space supply and demand.




Pick My Project

To further support communities to develop and deliver initiatives that strengthen the liveability of their local areas, the Victorian Budget 2018/19 set aside $30 million for a community grants initiative, Pick My Project. With this innovative grassroots democratic program, local residents had the opportunity to nominate local community-building projects, which were then put forward for the community to vote on.

Pick My Project backs ideas to improve local communities, such as new or improved sport and recreation activities, or programs supporting health and wellbeing, innovation and arts and culture.

Residents were encouraged to come up with a great idea to make life in their community even better and to identify an eligible local organisation to sponsor their idea, such as a community group, school or local council. Eligible ideas were put forward for community voting. In the northern region a total of $2.94 million of funding was allocated across 18 successful projects, including:

Budget 2018-19

The Banyule Sugar Glider Project, Montmorency Gladstone Park Agricultural Centre, Gladstone Park

All weather pitch - Goodbye mud, hello everyday play! Montmorency

Sunbury SES Needs A Training Room, Sunbury

Community Solar Installation Project, HeidelbergThe CERES Recycled, Electric, Kinetic Playground, Brunswick East

Bell Primary School Community Sports Oval, PrestonTempo Rubato: A backstreet classical music venue supporting new immigrants, Brunswick

The Compost Depot, PrestonBrunswick Food Forest: Growing Strong Communities, Brunswick

Solar panels for Melbourne’s first pay-as-you-feel rescued food market, Thornbury

Learning for the Future: Children and the Merri Creek, Coburg

We Love Bees! Bee School & Darebin Bee Shed, Alphington

Eltham North Adventure Playground Community Landscaping Project, Eltham North

Multi-sensory and learning room for children with special needs, Westmeadows

Plenty Gorge Park mountain bike trail program, Plenty

Second Chance Community Animal Hospital, Broadmeadows

Upgrade and improvement to Diamond Creek Trail, Diamond Creek

More information about the 18 successful projects in the Northern Metro Region can be found at https://pickmyproject.vic.gov.au/successful-projects



Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution

The Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) is a fund for essential infrastructure development in Melbourne’s growth areas of Cardinia, Casey, Melton, Wyndham and the northern region LGAs of Hume, Mitchell and Whittlesea. The GAIC delivers state and regionally significant infrastructure projects that support the needs of these growing communities.

GAIC is funding facilities such as construction of the new railway stations, land acquisition for ambulance stations and schools, and the development of cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. GAIC funding committed for 2018-19 in the northern region totaled $77.09 million.

Northern Growth Area

CouncilsProjects 2017–18

GAIC funding contribution

HumeSchool Building Project $45.27 million

Craigieburn Station Improvement Works – Car Parking and Public Realm $11.0 million

Sunbury Station Improvement Works - Car Parking and Public Realm $10.0 million

Merrifield – Craigieburn bus route $8.92 million

WhittleseaEpping Station Improvement Works – Car Parking and Public Realm $1.9 million

Table 1: GAIC funding committed in the Northern Metro Region for 2018-19



Growing Suburbs Fund The Growing Suburbs Fund (GSF) is a $200 million fund to deliver critical local infrastructure for communities in Melbourne’s fastest-growing outer suburbs.

The GSF is designed to bring forward critical community infrastructure priorities, delivering projects that improve the amenity, liveability and resilience of interface communities, support connections, enhance services and provide local jobs. These include family and community centres, town centre and civic revitalisation projects and open space and amenity improvements.

The GSF is available to 10 interface councils: Cardinia, Casey, Melton, Mornington Peninsula, Wyndham, Yarra Ranges and the northern region LGAs of Whittlesea, Hume, Mitchell and Nillumbik. The following table highlights funding provided in the Northern Metro Region in 2018-19.

Northern Interface Councils

Projects 2017–18GSF funding contribution

Hume Cloverton South Community Hub $2,657,000

Bulla Village Tennis Club Community Pavilion $300,000

Galaxyland Playspace Redevelopment $500,000

Hume Tennis and Community Centre Playspace Upgrade $450,000

Craigieburn Softball Centre $1,500,000

Connecting the Sunbury Town Centre $375,000

MitchellWallan Youth Services Hub $646,000

Wallan East (Relocatable) Early Learning Centre $2,170,000

Outdoor Exercise Equipment in Wallan 71,000

Wallan Playspace Upgrades and Half Courts Provision $175,000

Nillumbik Diamond Creek Regional Park Playspace $2,500,000

Eltham North Adventure Playground $570,000

Greensborough Hockey Multi-Purpose Pavilion Redevelopment $2,000,000

Whittlesea Harvest Home Road Community Pavilion $2,800,000

Urban Streetscape Improvements Project – High Street Thomastown $1,450,000

Norris Bank Reserve Redevelopment $500,000

Whittlesea Swim Centre Refurbishment $312,000

Table 2: GSF funding committed in the Northern Metro Region in 2018-19



Victorian Government election commitments

The Victorian Government is continuing to respond to the growth and change in Melbourne’s Northern Metro through the following election commitments.

Jobs

Election Commitment Investment area

The Suburban Rail Loop will create around 20,000 jobs during construction – with up to 2,000 apprentices, trainees and cadets employed through the Major Projects Skills Guarantee.

Statewide

Protecting Victorians at work - new criminal offence of workplace manslaughter in the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.

Statewide

Protect public holiday penalty rates of Victorian workers, introducing legislation in the first year.

Statewide

Transport


$5 billion towards the construction of the Melbourne Airport Rail Link, which will run from the CBD to the airport via Sunshine. The full business case is now underway, with the project set to begin construction by 2022.

Statewide

An additional 25 level crossings will be removed by 2025. This includes Upfield and Mernda lines in the Northern Region.

Statewide

$530 million to complete stage two of the Hurstbridge Line Upgrade, duplicating track, rebuilding stations and running more trains on the Hurstbridge line.

Multiple Local Government Areas

The Suburban Rail Loop will connect every major train line from the Frankston line all the way to the Werribee line through Melbourne Airport, with up to 12 new underground stations. The Government will invest $300 million in a full business case, design, and pre-construction works, with work on the first section in Melbourne’s south east expected to begin by the end of 2022. The south east section will run underground between Cheltenham and Box Hill – with new rail tunnels linking the Frankston, Cranbourne-Pakenham, Glen Waverley and Belgrave-Lilydale lines.

Statewide

Education and early childhood


Kinder for every three-year-old

Labor will invest almost $5 billion over the next decade to deliver a full 15 hours of three-year-old kinder, with the rollout beginning in 2020.

Statewide

New schools including:

• Edgars Creek Primary School

• Greenvale North West Primary School

• Greenvale Secondary School

• Kalkallo Common Primary School

• Merrifield West Primary School

• Wollert East Primary School.

Statewide



Twenty-one school upgrades including:

• $6.2 million upgrade for Brunswick North West Primary School

• $1 million upgrade for Corpus Christi School (Moreland)

• $3.6 million upgrade for Diamond Creek East Primary School

• $3.1 million upgrade for Diamond Valley College

• $450,000 upgrade for Eltham North Primary School

• $2.5 million upgrade for Gladstone Park Primary School

• $3.1 million upgrade for Gladstone Views Primary School

• $9.2 million upgrade for Glenroy Secondary College

• $9.9 million upgrade for Greensborough Secondary College

• $4.9 million upgrade for Macleod College

• $16.1 million upgrade for Montmorency Secondary College

• $1 million upgrade for Pascoe Vale South Primary School

• $400,000 upgrade for Preston Primary School

• $5.7 million upgrade for Research Primary School

• $4.5 million upgrade for Reservoir Primary School

• $13.47 million upgrade for St Helena Secondary College

• $1.4 million upgrade for St Mary’s College (Mitchell Shire)

• $1.1 million upgrade for St Thomas the Apostle School (Nillumbik Shire)

• $3.8 million upgrade for Viewbank Primary School

• $4.1 million upgrade for Wales Street Primary School

• $2 million upgrade for Watsonia Primary School.

Statewide

Kinder infrastructure

1000 new and upgraded kindergartens across the state.Statewide

Free of charge pads and tampons in every government school

Labor will provide free sanitary items in all female, unisex and accessible bathrooms at all government schools from term three, 2019.

Statewide

Health, housing and wellbeing


New community hospitals at Whittlesea and Eltham

Expanded existing services to become community hospitals in Craigieburn and Sunbury. Region

New parents and early childhood investment

$21.8 million over four years to give new parents a Baby Bundle, which will include a nappy bag to hold essential baby products, a teething ring or toy with information on teething, key advice on child safety, feeding, sleeping and an emergency contacts list.

The bundle will also include a safe sleeping bag and muslin wrap with advice from the Royal Children’s Hospital about how to safely wrap babies, and four picture books by Victorian authors for different stages of development.

Statewide



Young Families Package:

• $232 million in a comprehensive package of new parent and early childhood supports to help every Victorian parent

• Build 7 new Early Parenting Centres, refurbish 2 more and deliver a range of critical services, including:

• A new Early Parenting Centre in Whittlesea which will support around 690 families a yea

• A revamped 24-hour phone line with specialists in sleep and settling issues

• Boost the number of home visits for vulnerable families, so 7,000 families getting more support

• First aid training to around 26,000 parents per year.

Statewide

$395.8 million to provide free dental care at all public primary and secondary schools. Statewide

Funding for nurses and midwives to:

• Undertake further nurse and midwife to patient ratio improvements to better support nurses and midwives to provide quality care to Victorian patients

• Recruit more than 1,100 new nurses and midwives to rollout these improvements.

Statewide

$109 million for 90 new paramedics to be recruited, including $25 million to upgrade and build new ambulance stations and deliver 23 new vehicles on the road.

Statewide

Culture and recreation


$3.4 million in an historic boost to multicultural senior citizen organisations. Statewide

Funding provided to complete 17 km of the Plenty River Trail, new bike and walking trails across Nillumbik, Moreland, Banyule, Darebin, Hume and Whittlesea.

Region

Liveable and sustainable communities


Deliver the new Upper Merri Parklands which will stretch from Broadmeadows to Wallan. City of Hume

Half price solar panels at no up-front cost for 650,000 homes. Statewide

$82 million over ten years to provide an additional 50,000 rebates on solar panels for Victorian renters.

Statewide

6,500 hectares of parkland and new walking and bike trails right across Melbourne. Statewide




Name Description Position

Terry Larkins

Terry is an experienced leader and practitioner in local government and community development sectors. He has held a wide range of roles in both the development of the community and the commercial outcomes in Australia and overseas in Papua New Guinea. Terry was awarded the Public Service Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 1995 for Outstanding Public Service to Local Government.

Chair

Helen Coleman

Helen is a former Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillor of the Nillumbik Shire Council. Along with recent career experiences in the volunteer sector, Helen has spent her career working with local communities in all aspects of neighbourhood and community life.

Deputy Chair

Meghan Hopper

Meghan served as a Councillor in the City of Moreland’s South Ward 2012–16, and was Moreland’s youngest female Mayor. She was formerly a Chief Policy Officer in the family violence sector and is completing a PhD in political journalism and gender studies at Monash University. Meghan has extensive board experience, including previously on Monash University Council and the Victorian Ministerial Mayoral Roundtable.

Member

Carmel Guerra

Carmel has over 25 years’ experience in the community sector and is the founder and CEO of the Centre for Multicultural Youth. Carmel is a recognised researcher, contributor and commentator for multicultural youth affairs and is a member of the Youth Parole Board and Victorian Children’s Council. She is also Chairperson of the National Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network.

Member

Phillip Bain Phillip is an experienced health leader having held roles as Chief Executive of Plenty Valley Community Health in Whittlesea and Goulburn Valley Medicare Local. Phillip has a long-standing interest in public policy, especially as it affects the north of Melbourne and is an experienced health sector executive who serves on numerous boards and committees in the region.

Member

Mark Maskiell

Mark is CEO of the Melbourne Market Authority and an experienced executive and professional in the business sector, having held leading roles at Essendon Airport and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.

Member

Esme Bamblett

Esme is the CEO of the Aborigines Advancement League and is primarily concerned with Indigenous welfare issues and the preservation of Indigenous culture and heritage. Esme completed her PhD in Koori Identity in 2010.

Member

Sue Davies Director Community/Industry Engagement and Employability at La Trobe University, Sue has a strong communications and community and industry engagement background, and sits on the NORTH Link and Engagement Australia Boards (engagement arm of Universities Australia), and the Committee of Management for Youth Foundation 3081.

Member

Appendix 1: Northern Metropolitan Partnership – Membership



Name Description Position

Andrew Crisp

Andrew has more than 37 years’ experience in operational, project and specialist roles within Victoria Police and overseas. Andrew is Deputy Commissioner of Regional Operations, responsible for the four policing regions across the state: Transit and Public Safety Command, State Emergencies and Security Command, and Family Violence Command.

Victorian Government representative

Domenic Isola

Domenic is CEO of Hume City Council, where he is responsible for the day- to-day running of council, in particular, implementing council decisions, providing timely advice to council and achieving council’s goals.

CEO, Hume City Council

Simon Overland

Formerly the Secretary of the Department of Justice in Tasmania for five years, Simon has been CEO at the City of Whittlesea since 21 August 2017. He has extensive experience in executive management, leadership and community service roles. Simon was Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police from March 2009 to mid-2011.

CEO,

Whittlesea City Council

Mark Stoermer

Mark has held a number of senior positions in both the public and private sectors, most notably as the Executive Director of Corporate Services at Box Hill Institute, Director Corporate Business at the City of Melbourne and as CEO of Fordham Group Melbourne.

CEO, Nillumbik Shire Council

Sue Wilkinson

Formerly the CEO of Colac Otway Shire Council, Sue was appointed as the first female CEO at Darebin in September 2017. She has extensive leadership experience in both state and local governments having worked for the Department of Planning and Community Development, Monash and Port Phillip councils in planning, environmental and community focused roles.

CEO, Darebin City Council

Simon McMillan

Simon has worked in local government for 28 years in both inner and middle Melbourne metropolitan areas and has been with Banyule since 1999. Simon was appointed CEO Banyule City Council in 2007. Prior to this appointment, he was Director City Development responsible for Strategic Planning, Economic Development, Environment, Statutory Planning, Building, Engineering and Council Governance.

CEO, Banyule City Council

Nerina Di Lorenzo

Nerina has over 18 years’ experience in Victorian Local Government in a range of senior leadership roles spanning Business Improvement, Infrastructure Management and Project Delivery. Nerina has a Bachelor of Engineering, a Bachelor of Business and most recently completed a PhD on Barriers and Enablers to implementing change in Victorian Local Government organisations.

CEO, Moreland City Council

David Turnbull

David has 38 years’ experience with local government. David’s career has been with Interface municipalities undergoing significant change and growth, combined with the challenge of maintaining township, rural and green wedge qualities.

CEO, Mitchell Shire Council



Appendix 2: Victorian Government Response to the Northern Metropolitan Partnership Priorities 2017

Following receipt of the Northern Metropolitan Partnership’s advice on regional priorities in November 2017, the Victorian Government considered this advice and developed responses to each of the Partnership’s stated priorities. This has included:

• responding to priorities through engagement with existing government programs and services

• providing funding and departmental resources to further develop proposals, where government believes detailed work and evidence are required before government can consider proposals for new infrastructure and services

• developing new initiatives funded in the Victorian Budget 2018/19.

The following outlines the Government’s detailed response to the Northern Metropolitan Partnership’s advice on regional priorities.


Priority Outcome 1: Economy and transport

A connected, thriving community with jobs created in the region, unemployment rates lowered and congestion eased to create greater liveability for the growing Northern community.

Victorian Government response:

Over recent years, the Victorian Government has been responding to the broad transport needs of the Northern Metro Region by delivering a suite of major transformational city shaping transport infrastructure projects and new trains and trams, supported by projects that respond to the Northern Metro Region’s more local transport needs.

The Victorian Budget 2018/19 continues our investment in the region’s transport infrastructure. This includes a $2.2 billion Suburban Roads Upgrade in Melbourne’s northern and south-eastern suburbs, which will deliver upgrades to seven metropolitan roads in the northern suburbs. The Budget also provided a further $110 million to fast track completion of design and planning for the North East Link, the missing link in Melbourne’s freeway network; investment to complete the extension of rail services from South Morang to Mernda; widening of the remaining sections of the M80; and funding for the

removal of further level crossings in the northern region including Bell Street, Preston, Bell Street, Coburg and Moreland Road, Brunswick. South Morang passengers will be able to choose from 115 new and extended services each week and Hurstbridge line passengers living between Eltham and the city will have more options with 35 new and extended services.

The Government is working with councils and the private sector to develop regional employment hubs to support more jobs closer to residents in the north. Communities in the region are also benefitting from the Government’s programs to support transition of workers and businesses affected by closures of automotive manufacturing plants. Growth in employment centres, such as the Melbourne Food Market, the La Trobe NEIC and Melbourne and Essendon Airports will support growth in the region’s advanced manufacturing sector and give local business greater access to nationally-connected transport and logistics supply chains.

Priority Action Government Response Timeframe

Support of Metropolitan Activity Centres (Broadmeadows) including:

• bridge crossings (Merlynston Creek)

• local connector roads (North Meadows, East Meadows and Seabrook Reserve)

• Meadowlink (eastern entrance railway station)

• car parking for town centre (Loop Road)

Work to support Broadmeadows Revitalisation has commenced with the town hall redevelopment, improvements to Pascoe Vale Rd to support the transition of the Loop Rd to parking, and planning for the public realm improvements to the station (works to begin soon).

The Broadmeadows Revitalisation Board is advocating for initiatives including the Merlynston Creek crossing, redevelopment of Broadmeadows station and diverse housing opportunities. The Board continues to discuss these initiatives with the Northern Metropolitan Partnership.

Ongoing

Support of Metropolitan Activity Centres (Epping) Support the planning and delivery of the Food and Beverage Hub at Epping

The Government is working with industry and local stakeholders including Whittlesea Council on future opportunities for development at the Melbourne Market. DELWP will provide updates to the Partnership on progress to develop the Melbourne Market.

During 2018, the Partnership were provided with updates on the progress of planning for the Melbourne Market, and what this means for future hub development




Support of priority Major Activity Centre (Coburg Square Precinct) including:

• purchase of three properties to create new north-south road

• early construction of new traffic signalisation works to link north-south road with Bell Street

• flood mitigation works

• new civic town square and roads.

DOT and DJPR, has facilitated the establishment of the Coburg Square Project Control Group (PCG) to oversee the development of Coburg Square proposal. The PCG, chaired by the Moreland City Council CEO, brings together the Council, Transport for Victoria, VicRoads, Melbourne Water, the Level Crossing Removal Authority and Invest Victoria. The group is working together to unlock the potential of the site through leveraging upcoming Level Crossing Removal Works on the Bell St Level Crossing and potential investment by Coles Supermarket. DOT and DJPR will continue to support the operation of the PCG.

DOT and DJPR has joined with Moreland Council (with council in the lead) to do further work on the proposal.

Planning for Beveridge Inter- modal Freight Terminal Identify future configuration, future infrastructure requirements, and guidance on adjoining land uses to ensure maximum potential is realised for the freight terminal hub

Building new interstate freight terminals is central to the Government’s commitment to get more freight on rail.

The Government has identified Beveridge as a future location for a new interstate rail freight terminal – a project vital to meeting the challenge of a more than doubling in freight volumes by 2050.

The terminals at Truganina and Beveridge will ultimately replace the existing terminals at Dynon, which are unsuited to handling forecast freight increases or the larger trains planned for use on the Inland Rail. Strategic Planning in the Northern Growth Corridor aligns with future planning for the Beveridge Inter-modal Freight Terminal.

Transport for Victoria will engage the Northern Partnership about their transport issues to further develop thinking on this priority.

Land will be reserved for a BIFT in the short term. The BIFT will be developed after the completion of the Western Interstate Frieght Terminal (WIFT). BIFT is expected to be developed in the longer term 10+ years.

Business incubators (priority: Brunswick)

Through LaunchVic’s Supporting Local Council Startup Communities program, the Government and Moreland Council have secured a site for the Brunswick Incubator. The Government and Moreland Council believe that the precinct has the potential to be a major design precinct anchored by RMIT Brunswick.

Completed March 2018




Additional level crossing removals:

• Glenroy Rd, Glenroy

• Camp Rd, Campbellfield

• Bell St, Coburg,

• Moreland Rd, Coburg

• High St, Reservoir

• Bell St, Preston

• Grange Rd, Alphington

• Lower Plenty Rd, Ivanhoe

These sites are part of the Government’s announced and committed level crossing removal program. Some of these level crossings have already been removed or works are underway, while others are in planning.

Support the pilot scheme for NBN rollout to small business, sponsored by Banyule City Council

The Government, through Northern Melbourne Regional Development Australia and North Link, has supported the first stage pilot for sponsored NBN rollout for small business at Heidelberg West. The Government will evaluate the pilot results.

Government will review results of the pilot, delivered during the second half of 2018

Secure a Smart City Deal for Melbourne’s North

The Government recently signed a City Deal for Geelong. City Deals, including for the northern region, will be progressed in consultation with the Commonwealth Government and local governments in the coming years.

The Government recognises the desire of Northern Metro Region councils for a City Deal. The Government continues to engage with councils and North Link through the EPWG on ways to better identify and drive economic development opportunities as a result of the significant investment in the North East Link. This may form the basis of further discussions with the Commonwealth.

City Deals expected to be negotiated over the next 1-4 years



Support a seamless approach to lifelong learning resulting in a more skilled, work-ready, employed, resilient and connected community.


The Victorian Government supports this priority outcome and will work with the Northern Metropolitan Partnership in the delivery of infrastructure and services to enhance the region’s access to education and training.

The Government has so far invested $10 billion to make Victoria the Education State. The government’s investment in early childhood, education, skills and training is about giving every child, young person and adult the opportunity to succeed in life, regardless of their background or circumstance. In response to the growing demand for student places in the Northern Metro Region, the Government is investing $82 million to upgrade 21 schools, $148.4 million to build new schools and modernise and upgrade existing secondary and primary schools.

$271 million has been allocated to acquire land for schools across the state including for Hume and Whittlesea. A further $28.6 million has also been provided statewide for the Tech Schools Package, which includes the Whittlesea Tech School and the Banyule-Nillumbik Tech School.

The Government is working to create more pathways to employment through youth and apprenticeship programs and other investments to transform Victoria’s skills and training sector. The Empower Youth Program has been expanded. This program provides intensive, coordinated support to vulnerable young people in areas experiencing social and economic disadvantage to strengthen their health and wellbeing, connection to community, engagement in education and training, and their pathways to employment.

Priority Outcome 2: Education


Funding for establishment of Melbourne’s North Food Group, to enable education and reskilling to jobs in the food and beverage sector in the north

On 15 February 2018, the Minister for Industry and Employment announced the formation of the Melbourne’s North Food Group, supported by a grant from the Government’s Sector Growth Program. The program offers up to $1 million to Victorian-based projects that align with the state’s high-growth sectors such as food and fibre, creating jobs and driving growth, productivity and competitiveness of Victorian businesses.

The Victorian Budget 2018/19 included $400,000 for Melbourne’s North Food Group to support the growth of more than 400 businesses to enhance business connections, expand access to export markets and develop workers’ skills.

Completed




Implement best practice pathways to employment, leveraging existing initiatives across the region to link young people to jobs

Fully funded through a $200,000 commitment in the Victorian Budget 2018/19.

DET will engage with Partnership members and other regional stakeholders to confirm local needs, opportunities and existing sources of support. This will inform development of a new project to better connect young people in Melbourne’s north with employment. The Budget also committed an additional $28.6 million in continued support for 10 Tech Schools across the state, including Banyule- Nillumbik and Whittlesea.

In the 2018–19 financial year

Expansion of homework club programs as a platform for community strengthening and engagement to support school completion

DET provides funding to support the Centre for Multicultural Youth’s management of the Learning Beyond the Bell program, with funding confirmed to December 2019.

The program assists schools and trains volunteers to run out-of-school-hours learning support programs for refugee and asylum seeker students across Victoria, including in the Northern Metro Region.

Underway


Improve connection to the natural environment through recreational trails and increased use of cycling and walking.


The Victorian Government supports this priority outcome and will work with the Northern Metropolitan Partnership to protect and enhance the region’s key environmental assets, and increase people’s access and enjoyment of the natural environment.

The Government is working on innovative integrated planning approaches to protect open space in the growth area of the northern region including Sunbury and Lancefield. The Government is working with Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water, Hume City Council, the Wurundjeri Council and private landholders to establish Jacksons Creek Parklands to protect the environmental values of the area and provide open space for current and future communities.

The Government’s biodiversity policy, Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037 has a strong focus on people valuing nature. The plan’s Implementation Framework, and Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Framework were both released in March 2018 and include 89 actions to stop the decline of our native plants and animals and improve our natural environment so it is healthy, valued and actively cared for.

Priority Outcome 3: Environment


Construction of priority trails from the Northern Regional Trails Strategy:

• La Trobe University

• Shared Path

• Blind Creek Trail

• Meadowlink Shared Pathway

• Diamond Creek Trail

• Main Yarra Trail Realignment

• East-West Power Easement Trail

The Government is providing $1 million for the Northern Metropolitan Partnership for priority cycling and hiking trails projects identified in the Northern Regional Trails Strategy.

DELWP will provide administrative assistance in prioritising and implementing these trails.

The Victorian Budget 2018/19 also committed:

• $22.7million to upgrade and maintain active transport network

• infrastructure, including the Diamond Creek to Hurstbridge and Upfield trail and pedestrian and cycling path upgrades in Brunswick, Pascoe Vale, and Heidelberg

• $0.3 million to develop a Melbourne- wide Metropolitan Open Space Strategy.

In the 2018-19 financial year


Enable young people to have a voice, feel connected to communities, be healthy, respected, and ensure diversity thrives, by establishing a youth congress for the region, led by young people.


The Government supports this priority outcome and will work with the Northern Metropolitan Partnership to enhance the engagement of young people in determining regional priorities.

The Government is committed to engaging and listening to young people, to ensure that they have a voice in decision-making and feel connected to their communities. The Office for Youth (in DHHS) leads and coordinates whole-of-government policy advice on issues affecting young people and delivers initiatives to support youth engagement and the participation of young people in civic and economic life.

The youth policy Building Stronger Youth Engagement in Victoria establishes a Youth Engagement Charter outlining the principles to guide the Government’s engagement with young people. A number of flagship projects have already been implemented to increase engagement: an annual Youth Summit bringing together young people to discuss priority youth issues, and the Youth Congress, which is a statewide advisory group made up of young people between the ages of 12 and 24. These representatives will advise government and act on priority issues.

Priority Outcome 4: Connected Young People


Stage 1: Youth congress for the region, led by young people, to determine priorities

DHHS (North) will work with other government departments, local government and other services to identify how young people can be involved in activities, including existing forums, to strengthen the voice of young people.

The Government hosted a Metropolitan Partnerships Youth Forum in May 2018 and the Office for Youth will support the Northern Metropolitan Partnership in the development of Northern Metro Region- specific youth engagement initiatives.

Continuing into 2019

Stage 2: Provide resources for young people to address priorities identified

The Office for Youth has met the Metropolitan Development Advisory Panel and a representative from the Northern Metropolitan Partnership to advise on existing grant programs that support young people to address local priorities.

The Victorian Budget 2018/19 includes $200,000 to better connect young people in Melbourne’s Northern Metro Region with employment opportunities. This project will be developed in collaboration with the Northern Metropolitan Partnership.





The Government supports this priority outcome and will work with the Northern Metropolitan Partnership to improve the health and wellbeing of northern region communities.

Major new investments in health are being guided by the Government’s Statewide Design, Service and Infrastructure Plan for Victoria’s Health System 2017– 2037, released in December 2017. This plan supports joined-up planning at the regional level across health services, local government, Primary Health Networks, Aboriginal-controlled health services, and other service sectors.

Through the Victorian Government’s Social Housing Investment Planning (SHIP) grants program, Darebin ($110,000), along with Whittlesea, Hume and Mitchell ($200,000 as a partnership) Councils received funding to help drive the planning and development of social housing in their respective areas.

Building on the Government’s major investments in hospitals, we are making further investments in our health workforce, boosting access to mental health, expanding alcohol and drug treatment and early intervention services, and improving ambulance response times. We are providing more support for new parents and their children, as well as vulnerable families whose support in times of crisis or following trauma is critical to keeping children safe. Under the Absolutely Everyone: State Disability Plan 2017– 2020, the Government is also assisting people with a disability to overcome barriers to employment, education and housing, and investing further in support services so that people achieve a smooth transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Prevent avoidable hospital admissions and improve health and wellbeing through increased access to affordable clinical health and community services that cater to the north’s culturally diverse community.

Priority Outcome 5: Health & Wellbeing


Development of a Health and Wellbeing Hub in Craigieburn

The Government is supporting further planning for health and wellbeing hubs, with our metropolitan growth corridors a priority for future capacity development.

Mental Health for young people in the outer north

Part 1: A scoping study to investigate gaps in youth mental health services in the outer north (federal and state funded services from early intervention to secondary and tertiary)

DHHS convened a workshop with key stakeholders in the outer North Metro Region to map current service planning initiatives (underway or completed) and to better identify key service gaps in youth mental health services across primary, secondary and tertiary interventions. A key outcome of the workshop was to establish a shared understanding of priority issues and agreed next steps.

July – Sept 2018

Part 2: Implementation plan and delivery where critical gaps exist

The outcomes of part 1 of this priority will inform the implementation plan.

1-4 years




Culturally appropriate services for Aboriginal people

Part 1: Develop a strategy to provide culturally appropriate health services for Aboriginal people

DHHS North Division is developing an Aboriginal Cultural Safety Framework to assist in progressing implementation of the Korin Korin Balit-Djak strategic plan and the Aboriginal Governance and Accountability Framework mechanisms. This will identify strategies to build the cultural capabilities of universal health services across the division.


Part 2: Delivery of training/ capacity building activities

DHHS North Division is developing an Aboriginal Cultural Framework to assist in identifying Aboriginal-specific training and capacity building requirements across the health and human services sector. The Aboriginal Workforce Development Initiative will complement the approach by offering the resources required to support the approach.

1-4 years



20-minute neighbourhood: Accessible, safe and attractive local areas where people can access most of their everyday needs within a 20-minute walk, cycle or local public transport trip.

Active transport: Transport requiring physical activity, typically walking and cycling.

Activity centres: Areas that provide a focus for services, employment, housing, transport and social interaction. They range in size and intensity of use from smaller neighbourhood centres to major suburban centres and larger metropolitan centres.

Affordable housing: Housing that is appropriate for the needs of a range of very low to moderate income households, and priced (whether mortgage repayments or rent) so these households are able to meet their other essential basic living costs.

Annual Assembly: Annual meeting in each metropolitan region in June/July/August 2018 to assist Metropolitan Partnerships to test, refine and finalise their annual advice to government.

Community infrastructure: Public places and spaces that accommodate community facilities and services and support individuals, families and groups to meet their social needs, maximise their potential and enhance community wellbeing.

Greenfield: Undeveloped land identified for residential or industrial/commercial development, generally on the fringe of metropolitan Melbourne.

Green wedges: Defined under Part 3AA of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 as “land that is described in a metropolitan fringe planning scheme as being outside an urban growth boundary”. There are 12 defined green wedges spanning parts of 17 municipalities.

Growth areas: Locations on the fringe of metropolitan Melbourne designated in planning schemes for large- scale transformation, over many years, from rural to urban use.

Infrastructure: Basic facilities and networks needed for the functioning of a local community or broader society.

Liveability: A measure of a city’s residents’ quality of life, used to benchmark cities around the world. It includes socioeconomic, environmental, transport and recreational measures.

Major Activity Centres: Suburban centres that provide access to a wide range of goods and services. They have different attributes and provide different functions, with some serving larger subregional catchments. Plan Melbourne identified 121 Major Activity Centres.

Melbourne’s 10 interface councils: Outer-suburban councils in some of the most rapidly growing areas in Melbourne: Cardinia, Casey, Hume, Melton, Mitchell, Mornington Peninsula, Nillumbik, Whittlesea, Wyndham and Yarra Ranges.

Metropolitan Activity Centres: Higher-order centres with diverse employment options, services and housing stock, supported by good transport connections. Existing centres include Box Hill, Broadmeadows, Dandenong, Epping, Footscray, Fountain Gate/Narre Warren, Frankston, Ringwood and Sunshine. Future centres will include Lockerbie and Toolern.

Metropolitan Melbourne: The 31 municipalities that make up metropolitan Melbourne, plus part of Mitchell Shire within the urban growth boundary.

Metropolitan region: A grouping of metropolitan local government areas that are connected by their alignment within the city’s major transport corridors and shared use of major metropolitan infrastructure and services. Plan Melbourne identified six metropolitan regions: Western, Eastern, Southern, Northern, Inner South East and Inner Metro.

National Employment and Innovation Cluster: Designated concentrations of employment distinguished by a strong core of nationally significant knowledge-sector businesses and institutions that make a major contribution to the national economy and Melbourne’s positioning in the global economy.

Resilience: The capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses, systems and infrastructure to survive, adapt and grow, no matter what chronic stresses or shocks they encounter.

Urban growth boundary: The geographic limit for the future urban area of Melbourne.

Urban renewal: The process of planning and redeveloping underutilised medium and large-scale urban areas, precincts or sites for mixed land-use purposes.

Appendix 3: Glossary




Documents

Northern Metro Region · and the northern region’s communities to work together The Northern Metro Region Five Year Plan for Jobs, ... projected to grow by around 13 per cent over