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Advocacy Priorities

Merri-bek has a strong history of successfully advocating for changes in government policy, securing funding for community infrastructure, influencing significant State Government infrastructure projects and advancing human rights interests.

Advocacy priorities provide a focus for Council to promote its priorities to key stakeholders, in particular Federal and State Government, to secure support and investment in projects and initiatives that benefit the Merri-bek community and can leave a lasting legacy.

Read about our advocacy priorities below.

Priority Infrastructure Projects

  • Our ask: Investment of $2 million for a feasibility study for the upgrade and duplication of the Upfield Rail Corridor and the extension and electrification of the Upfield rail line to Wallan

    Our aim: Resolve critical constraints on train services in the Merri-bek, Hume, Whittlesea and Mitchell municipalities to contribute to unlocking the potential of Melbourne’s North.

    The Upfield rail corridor services the growing populations of Merri-bek and southern Hume and is the gateway to Melbourne’s booming northern region in Hume, Whittlesea and Mitchell Shire. The Northern Growth Corridor is projected to accommodate 30% of Melbourne’s future growth over the coming decades. This region will ultimately be home to more than 1.5million people.

    Key rail investments are needed now to resolve critical constraints on train services in the Merri-bek, Hume, Whittlesea and Mitchell municipalities to contribute to unlocking the potential of Melbourne’s North, including:

    • Duplicating and upgrading the Upfield rail line between Gowrie and Upfield stations to improve train frequency, accessibility, passenger experience and station amenity.
    • Re-configuring the City Loop to separate the Upfield and Craigieburn lines to remove ongoing constraints to improved capacity, frequency and reliability for passengers along both lines.
    • Extending and electrifying the Upfield line to Wallan with new stations to support the rapidly occurring residential, commercial and industrial development in the region.

    Duplication, upgrade and City Loop reconfiguration 
    The Upfield rail line has one of the least frequent peak-period services in Melbourne’s rail network, with train services running every 15-20 minutes during peak periods, and every 20-30 minutes outside peak.

    Single track service between Gowrie and Upfield stations and the Upfield and Craigieburn train lines sharing City Loop tracks creates significant bottlenecks and constraints to improved capacity, frequency and reliability for passengers.

    Upfield line stations Fawkner, Merlynston, Gowrie and Batman have been identified as having the most infrequent train services in the State with the four northern train services beyond Coburg among the lowest rated for commuter experiences, including Batman (rated 4.45 out of 10), Merlynston (rated 4.05 out of 10) and Fawkner (rated 3.88 out of 10); with Gowrie (3.64 out of 10) ranking the lowest for train services in Victoria.

    Public Transport Victoria (PTV) has previously projected the Upfield line to experience the largest yearly rise in passengers of all city trains between 2021 and 2031, with patronage set to grow by 5.3% a year over the decade.

    Duplicating the track between Gowrie and Upfield stations will remove significant bottlenecks and constraints for the length of Upfield line, allowing for improved, capacity, frequency and reliability.

    The Upfield and Craigieburn train lines continuing to share the same City Loop tracks has been identified by Infrastructure Victoria as an ongoing constraint to improved capacity, frequency and reliability for passengers along both lines. A coordinated and timely reconfiguration of the City Loop could also allow for the line to be extended further north to Wallan.

    The completion of Melbourne Metro 1 will remove Sunbury line trains from the current loop, enabling more pathways to become available at North Melbourne Railway Station. Securing these spots for northern group trains could contribute to improved frequency on the Upfield line.

    Extension and electrification to Wallan
    In Melbourne’s booming northern region, rates of growth in Hume and Mitchell Shire are substantially higher than what State Government have projected - Mitchell Shire’s population is projected to double almost every five years for at least the next 20 years and ultimately will reach over 230,000. Hume is expected to grow to 381,039 people by 2041.

    The growth communities in Mitchell and Hume including Wallan, Beveridge, Lockerbie, Donnybrook and the future Cloverton Metropolitan Activity Centre (MAC), are currently serviced by diesel V/line services only as electric metropolitan train services terminate at Craigieburn – this cuts passenger capacity by more than half, as a V/Line train carries about 40% of the passengers of a comparable electric metropolitan train.

    The V/line services were expected to reach capacity by 2030, but with higher than forecast growth occurring now, coupled with the State Government’s fast-tracking of Precinct Structure Planning, reaching capacity is likely to be closer to 2025/2026.

    Without an electrified Upfield extension to Wallan the communities of Melbourne’s rapidly growing North will become increasingly reliant on the Hume Freeway and Sydney Road, putting more cars on these already congested roads.

    Jobs closer to homes
    Infrastructure Victoria’s modelling has suggested that upgrading the Upfield corridor, including duplicating and electrifying the line so that it can run through to the Roxburgh Park and Craigieburn areas, can “encourage greater development and investment along the corridor, attracting more suburban jobs closer to people’s homes”.

    Merri-bek is home to over 51,064 jobs, with the majority of these jobs located either side of the Upfield line and Sydney Road. Connecting the 94,500 residents from Roxburgh Park and Craigieburn to the Upfield corridor, along with residents from the burgeoning suburbs of Lockerbie, Donnybrook, Beveridge and Wallan, could create a vibrant and job-rich Sydney Road corridor, providing direct (and more sustainable) access for residents to jobs and education in northern metropolitan Melbourne, a greater pool of workers for businesses in Brunswick and Coburg, and the potential for a significant uplift in retail and hospitality demand along the strip.

    Greater connectivity through Melbourne’s northern corridor will also support improved access to other major commercial and industrial precincts including Merrifield, the future Beveridge Intermodal Freight Terminal, and the future Cloverton MAC. The residential development occurring in Mitchell Shire in particular is very unlikely to provide sufficient local jobs for the size of the community and efficient, accessible commuter rail services will be vital to ensure that residents of these communities have equitable access to employment opportunities.

  • Our ask: Investment towards the redevelopment of the Coburg Library.

    Our aim: Deliver a new leading library and cultural facility that is a place of welcome, learning, creativity and social connection for our diverse community – a climate-resilient, multifunctional and adaptable space that will be a catalyst for the broader revitalisation of the heart of Coburg.

    Merri-bek’s Coburg Library is the busiest and most central of Merri-bek’s five libraries.

    Merri-bek and Coburg are forecast to experience a 29% and 28% population increase by 2041 respectively. This increase in population will increase demand on the Coburg Library, which will need to accommodate the needs of both the current and future community.

    The Coburg Library opened in 1983 in a space that was once a supermarket and is now over 40 years old. With a cultural shift in the role and function of libraries as public spaces over this time, and the increasing demand for library services in the heart of Coburg, the existing building does not have the space or specific facilities to meet demand.

    A new fit-for purpose library will create new spaces, services and experiences for the growing Coburg community and be a key part of the revitalisation of Coburg.

    It is widely recognised that public libraries improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and the community. Library services have a positive impact by providing access to physical collections, meeting spaces, technology and the internet, or more recent programs targeted at holistic social, physical, and mental health and wellbeing.

    Research commissioned by the State Library of Victoria and Public Libraries Victoria in 2023 found the positive impacts of public libraries on communities outweigh the costs by double and that Victorian public libraries generate a net annual benefit of $234.7 million in health and wellbeing benefits.

    Recent community engagement conducted to shape Coburg’s revitalisation demonstrated that there was strong demand for a new public library that better meets the needs and aspirations of the community.

    Key themes included providing a third place which welcomes the community, expanded collections and facilities, including distinct and flexible spaces and creating connections to outdoor spaces, such as courtyards or rooftop gardens.

    The Coburg Library redevelopment is a key part of the revitalisation of Central Coburg. Council is developing a masterplan to lead the revitalisation of Coburg and maximise community outcomes including providing housing (including social and affordable housing) that meets the needs of our community, an expanded public space network and integrated ecological systems to improve climate resilience, water management and biodiversity.

    Merri-bek Council is ready to progress the redevelopment of a new library and cultural facility as part of Coburg’s revitalisation but will need to partner with other levels of government to make a new Coburg Library a reality.

  • Our ask: Investment from the including from Housing Australia programs, the Urban Precincts and Partnerships Program and the Housing Support Program towards the development of social and affordable housing in Central Coburg.

    Our aim: Create affordable housing in Central Coburg within a walk of shops, public transport, work, schools and childcare.

    Australia is facing a housing crisis; it has fewer dwellings per 1,000 people than the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average.

    Housing stock is not keeping up with our growing population and many renters and first-home buyers are experiencing rising house prices and worsening affordability.

    Merri-bek alone needs between 7,000 and 10,500 new affordable homes by 2036. While the number of homes in Merri-bek has increased by 25% since 2001, the rate of increase in homes in Coburg has been lower than the municipality at 17%.

    As affordability worsens, renters are suffering high levels of housing stress, paying more than 30% of their household income for housing costs – and this is particularly high in Coburg. The median weekly rent in Coburg has risen more than twice the rate of inflation from $200 to $500 since 2003. For private renters on low incomes (less than $800 per week), 75% are in housing stress.

    Merri-bek also needs Homes Victoria to deliver a minimum of 1,000 new social homes in Merri-bek by 2036 – currently public or community housing makes up just 3% of homes in Merri-bek, of which very few are in Coburg.

    Council owns 45,000 square metres of land in central Coburg between Bell St and Munro and Harding Streets. While much of it is currently used as carparks, it has the potential to be home to a diverse range of housing. However, Council cannot deliver this alone and will require partnerships with other levels of Government and housing providers to make this a reality.

    Central Coburg is ideal for all types of households on low income or in need of subsidised housing. It has excellent train, tram and bus links, a range of fresh food and grocery outlets, schools and leisure facilities.

    Council’s community engagement on the revitalisation of Central Coburg asked locals: “When thinking about new housing that will be provided in future in the heart of Coburg, what do you think is most important?” 61% said they wished to see affordable and social housing for people that is available to people on low incomes or with support needs.

    New housing in the heart of Coburg could bring a range of benefits including:

    • creating a stronger sense of vibrancy and liveliness
    • enhancing safety through the overlooking of public spaces
    • bringing more customers for local businesses
    • providing much needed new homes for the many people in Merri-bek who need them
  • Our ask: Investment of $2 million to provide an All Abilities Playground at Sewell Reserve, Glenroy.

    Our aim: Provide an accessible and inclusive play space where children of all abilities can experience fun and challenging play alongside their friends and family members.

    Across Australia, around 18% of the population, or 4.4 million people, live with disability. Disability exists in many forms, such as physical, intellectual, neurological, and sensory disabilities, as well as other genetic and neurodivergent conditions including autism, dyslexia and attention-deficit disorder.

    An accessible playground that provides a mixture of accessible features and equipment that caters to a wide range of abilities can increase creativity, facilitate active lifestyles, promote health and wellbeing, and build social connections and cohesion.

    Importantly, accessible playgrounds encourage children with disabilities to participate in community life and they promote integrated play between disabled and non-disabled children. Integrated play is important because children can learn from each other, and it can challenge stereotypes, myths and stigma that exist in the community about disability.

    Accessible playgrounds have many things in common such as swings, sand pits and slides. However, an accessible playground can include a range of different features that make the playground accessible to children with different disabilities. These can include things like:

    • Wider spaces and ramps to give access to wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
    • Sensory play equipment such as the Little Tikes Braille Panel or Beat Blocks.
    • Swings designed to accommodate larger children.
    • Wheelchair-accessible trampolines, sandpits and swings.
    • Modified slides with ramps for additional support and modified climbing frames for blind/partially sighted children.
    • Soft surfaces, appropriate luminance and colour contrasts, textured surfaces to explore with touch, auditory features to make sounds and noises
    • Cosy nooks and quieter zones

    Sewell Reserve
    Sewell Reserve in Glenroy is home to a range of community facilities including a play space, sporting oval and pavilion, netball courts, a skate park, outdoor gym equipment, a shelter, circuit paths and open space.

    Sewell Reserve can provide appropriate access and parking facilities for people to travel from other suburbs to an inclusive and accessible play space. All Abilities Playgrounds attract families from areas outside their local government area and can lead to a boost in economic and social activity in the area and an increase in public safety.

    Merri-bek City Council is investing $837,000 in the renewal of the existing play space in 2024/2025. Community consultation is already underway to collect ideas from the community ahead of a draft concept plan in early 2024.

    With additional funding, there is an opportunity to expand the project to include an ‘all abilities’ space.

  • Our ask: Investment towards the development of inclusive multi-purpose community facilities, at Ballerrt Mooroop, Glenroy.

    Our aim: Create community infrastructure at Ballerrt Mooroop for use by Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung, local First Nations and non-indigenous communities in the cities of Merri-bek and Hume, providing services to meet local needs that increase connection to culture, capacity building, education, employment, economic development, arts, health, and social emotional wellbeing outcomes.

    Ballerrt Mooroop, located on Hilton Street in Glenroy, holds significant cultural and historical value for the local First Nations community. It is home to a spiritual healing tree and sacred ceremonial grounds.

    In 2021 the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of Merri-bek and Hume was almost 3,000. From 2016 to 2021, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population increased by 30% in these two municipalities, where the average annual population change over the period was 5.4%.

    Nearly half of the First Nations people in Merri-bek and Hume are under the age of 25. It is expected that in the coming decades, this community will grow not only numerically but also proportionately in the region.

    Existing Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations in Merri-bek and Hume provide services for Elders and an ageing population. With the large proportion of the First Nations population under 25, there is a gap in delivery of services, supports and programs locally.

    It is important to provide a local culturally safe and inclusive space for First Peoples’ to come together to feel socially and culturally connected to community. Ballerrt Mooroop can provide opportunity for self-determination with community-guided future service provision based on local needs that increase connection to culture, capacity building, education, employment, economic development, arts, health, and social emotional wellbeing outcomes. Ballerrt Mooroop can also provide opportunities to embrace reconciliation through social cohesion and building relationships within the local community.

    The 2.42-hectare site was formerly the Ballerrt Mooroop College, the Victorian prep to year 12 college of Koorie Education. Following the college’s closure in December 2012, there was a strong desire from the local First Nations community and other community members, to retain the land for a future community hub.

    Merri-bek City Council has held a peppercorn lease for Ballerrt Mooroop with the Department of Education since August 2013 and subleases the land to the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Aboriginal Heritage Corporation.

    Both Merri-bek Council, Ballerrt Mooroop stakeholders and the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation are working towards securing the land for the First Nations community in Merri-bek and Hume into the future.
    There is a strong opportunity for State and Federal Government to demonstrate commitment to self-determination, reconciliation and reparations by enabling the development of Ballerrt Mooroop into a place that meets the needs of Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung, local First Nations and non-indigenous communities in the cities of Merri-bek and Hume.

  • Our ask: Investment of $2 million to plant more trees in Merri-bek.

    Our aim: Create a greener and healthier Melbourne north and mitigate the negative effects of climate change.

    Today, just over half of the world’s population lives in urban areas, and this is predicted to rise to just over two-thirds by 2050. This is also true of Melbourne with a population of eight million people projected for 2051.

    Merri-bek City Council recognises we’re facing an uncertain climate future and have declared a Climate Emergency. Council’s Urban Forest Strategy 2017-2027 aims to protect and enhance Merri-bek’s natural assets on public and private land, including street trees, significant trees, areas of conservation value and habitat corridors.

    Changes in urban development, a growing population and climate change – including increasing urban heat – leave Melbourne’s greenery vulnerable and could severely compromise the benefits derived from urban nature like cleaner air and water, reduced heat and habitat for wildlife.
    Urban forest refers to all the trees and other vegetation in public and private spaces. It includes street and park trees, front and backyard vegetation, grasslands, shrubs, wetlands, nature strips, balcony plants, and green roofs and walls.

    In 2017, Merri-bek’s Urban Forest Strategy 2017-2027 recognised that Merri-bek’s tree canopy cover was in decline, with only around 14% tree canopy cover compared to 17.3% tree canopy cover in neighbouring Darebin and 18.5% in Yarra, making Merri-bek one of the most vulnerable municipalities in Victoria.

    Council has committed $6.51 million over 3 years from 2024/25, which will see around 8,800 trees planted, established and maintained through to 2029. As an inner-city Council, trees are planted in a variety of spaces including vacant nature strips, in parks, and hard-stand planting in road reserves. Funding the maintenance of these trees over several years will greatly improve the survival rate of trees planted so that by 2050, these trees will add 0.9% extra tree canopy cover in Merri-bek – equivalent to 376 swimming pools.

    Improving our urban forest through quality urban greening activities such as the planting of trees and vegetation has many benefits. Exposure to nature improves our community’s mental and physical wellbeing, and provides opportunities to strengthen community bonds by providing spaces where people can congregate, connect and recreate.

    Modelling carried out by Council in 2022 showed that by 2050 the benefits of 8,800 trees planted will total $22.75 million, with benefits in areas such as improved air quality, shading and temperature reduction, energy savings, increases in property value and storm water inception. This is a return of $2.04 for every dollar spent.

    Additional investment from the Australian Government would allow Merri-bek to expand the tree planting program and move toward maximising tree planting on public land.

  • Our ask: Investment towards the redevelopment of Coburg Leisure Centre.

    Our aim: Redevelop Coburg Leisure Centre as a major level facility to continue to provide a diverse product mix at our aquatic and leisure facilities that meet the needs of existing and future residents in Coburg and surrounds.

    Coburg Leisure Centre was opened in 1993 and over the past 30 years has provided aquatic and dry health and wellness facilities to the Coburg community and surrounds.

    Merri-bek and Coburg are forecast to experience a 29% and 28% population increase by 2041 respectively. This will increase demand on the Coburg Leisure Centre, which will need to accommodate the needs of both the current and future community.

    Merri-bek is home to four aquatic and leisure centres and two outdoor pools. The redevelopment of a major level facility at Coburg will include a range of aquatic and dry health and wellness facilities that complements each of Council’s other aquatic and leisure centres.

    The future Coburg Leisure Centre will also need to cater for the secondary catchment of Brunswick, Brunswick East and Brunswick West due to the limited options to expand Brunswick Baths. Brunswick’s suburbs are forecast to grow by 34% by 2041 to be home to 77,959 people.

    An expanded Coburg Leisure Centre will meet the contemporary aquatic and leisure facility trends to increase the provision of programs to address the key markets of:

    • Recreation, leisure and adventure
    • Fitness and training
    • Therapy and wellness
    • Education

    Our future aquatic and leisure facilities will provide services address current and future aquatic and leisure needs, as well as continue to meet the demands for recreational and lap swimmers.

    Council aquatic and leisure facilities provide a range of values and benefits for communities including:

    Health and fitness services allowing people to enjoy the benefits of physical activity.

    The provision of safe and welcoming spaces, supporting social inclusion and a sense of connection for all members of the community.

    • Opportunities to participate for recreation, competition or sport.
    • Community development that contributes to the development of social capital, helping to create links in a community.
    • Positive impacts on physical and mental wellbeing.
    • Water safety, education and water confidence programs that can reduce the incidence of drownings in the community.
    • Fostering community pride.
    • Providing climate change relief in extreme weather events.
  • Our ask: Investment towards the refurbishment of Brunswick’s historic Gillon Oval Grandstand.

    Our aim: Preserve the Gillon Oval Grandstand for future generations to use and ensure disability access and sustainable building best practice.

    The historic Gillon Oval Grandstand, located in Brunswick Park, was built in 1925 and in 2025/26, this iconic building will celebrate its centenary.

    While the facilities under the grandstand are in excellent condition and continue to be used for cricket and football, the top half of the grandstand is falling into disrepair.

    A refurbishment of the Gillon Oval Grandstand will preserve this important community building for future generations to use, including sporting clubs and community. Refurbishment will also provide disability access and sustainable building best practice, ensuring the building’s performance is optimised and any negative impacts on the environment are minimised.

    Brunswick Park was the first park in the Brunswick area created to meet the leisure needs of the community in 1907.
    Football was first played at the Brunswick Park oval in 1908. The oval, and the Gillon Oval Grandstand, has long associations with several local sporting groups, forming part of the cultural heritage of the local community.

    This precinct is now the home of the Brunswick Cricket Club, Brunswick Football Club, Brunswick Junior Football Club and Brunswick Netball Club. The precinct hosts over 1,045 male and female players who participate in cricket, AFL, and netball during both the winter and summer seasons.

    The Gillon Oval Grandstand still provides the best viewing location around the sports ground and is used by spectators at both football and cricket matches. The unique building is also regularly used for film and music clips.

    Gillon Oval has in recent years undergone a significant transformation following the redevelopment of the sports pavilion and the open space area. However, these redevelopment projects did not involve any works on the grandstand.

    Renovations needed to preserve the Gillon Oval Grandstand include:

    • Removal of wire access gates
    • Sealing of roof rafters from birds
    • Replacement of flooring
    • Replacement of seating
  • Our ask: Investment in the upgrade of neighbourhood playgrounds across Merri-bek.

    Our aim: Provide a diverse range of play spaces which are fun, inviting, challenging and cater to children and young people of all abilities and ages.

    Merri-bek has more than 130 playgrounds throughout the municipality that offer a wide range of playground sizes, equipment and styles to cater to our diverse community.

    Formal playgrounds provide important opportunities for play, providing the community with free and valuable activities and experiences that are often not available in the home. Playgrounds significantly contribute to children and young people’s development through physical and mental stimulation and help children’s understanding of the world expand.

    Play spaces also contribute to the development of social connections in the community, as groups of families, friends and carers with children often chose a play space with picnic facilities for weekend gatherings and celebrations.

    Providing spaces which encourage physical activity and social interaction are also vital in addressing some of the physical and mental health challenges people face today.

    Merri-bek’s population is forecast to increase by 29% to 234,281 by 2041. The demands on Merri-bek’s open space and playgrounds will increase as the community grows. Council will need to continue investing in existing playgrounds; investment from governments will help Council continue to providing a diverse range of play spaces which are fun, inviting, challenging and cater to children and young people of all abilities and ages.

    Council has identified playgrounds that need upgrading including:

    • $185,000 for McKay Street Reserve, Coburg
    • $600,000 for ATC Cook Reserve, Glenroy
    • $320,000 for Wallace Reserve, Glenroy
    • $245,000 for Hallam Reserve, Pascoe Vale
  • Our ask: Investment to upgrade sports-field lighting at multiple sites across Merri-bek.

    Our aim: Support the health benefits of sports, sharing of community open space and reducing carbon emissions.

    Over the past decade, participation rates in most outdoor recreation activities have risen, particularly in junior and women’s teams in competition sport, youth and young adults in social unstructured sport and middle and older adults in informal recreational activities like cycling, running, gym, swimming and dog walking.

    Our open spaces and sportsgrounds serve as the primary venues for various organised community and formal sports activities. They also provide open space for informal and recreational sports.

    Merri-bek’s population is forecast to increase by 29% to 234,281 by 2041. Coupled with strong sports participation rates and trends in the municipality, existing sport infrastructure in Merri-bek will not support future growth.

    Providing well-lit sports grounds can encourage participation in sports and physical activity, reduce safety concerns and make sports grounds more accessible to the broader community.

    Upgrading to energy-efficient lighting at sports fields is beneficial for both sporting clubs and the community. Upgraded lighting allows sports clubs to schedule more training sessions and spread training times into the evening. With greater flexibility to schedule training sessions, sports fields can be available at other days and times for community use.

    LED lighting has multiple benefits including:

    • More energy efficient than conventional lighting, saving up to 60% on energy bills and reduced carbon emissions.
    • Requires minimal maintenance, so is a long-lasting asset to Council and community.
    • Immediate brightness when turned on, unlike conventional lighting that needs time to warm up.
    • Provides a fine bright white light on the entire field that can be positioned differently, resulting in minimum spillage into the nearby environment and wildlife.

    Council has identified several sports fields in Merri-bek that would benefit from upgraded lighting. Investment from other levels of government would enable these projects to happen sooner.

    • $750,000 for Charles Mutton Reserve, Fawkner
    • $350,000 for Oak Park East Reserve, Oak Park
    • $400,000 for Shore Reserve, Pascoe Vale South
    • $400,000 for Dunstan Reserve, Brunswick West
    • $1.5 million for Wallace Reserve, Glenroy

Priority Projects

  • Our ask: Invest in and bring forward the upgrade and duplication of the Upfield Rail Corridor

    Our aim: Improve train frequency, accessibility, passenger experience and station amenity, and support job and socio-economic outcomes for Merri-bek and Melbourne’s growing northern region.

    Merri-bek acknowledges the State Government’s investments over recent years towards removing dangerous level crossings in Glenroy ($285 million) and Coburg ($542 million). When combined with the State’s Metro Tunnel Project’s completion by 2026, these projects will help create room for 45,000 passengers every week, or 71% more capacity, along the Upfield Line during peak periods for passengers, and save around five minutes time on the journey to the CBD.

    However, the reality is far more will be required, and before 2026, to urgently address a range of longstanding and ongoing challenges and constraints along the remainder of the Upfield Rail Corridor, and to help us build a more sustainable city.

    Merri-bek Council is calling on priority investments towards the Upfield corridor to:

    • duplicate the Upfield line between Gowrie and Upfield Stations
    • modernise Batman, Merlynston, Fawkner and Gowrie Train Stations as part of any duplication works
    • re-configure the City Loop to separate the Upfield and Craigieburn lines
    • Create transport interchanges adjoining each of the Upfield line’s stations that make provision for train, bus, tram, pedestrians, cycling and cars
    • Take a partnership approach with the Merri-bek community around the design and delivery of an enhanced Upfield corridor
    • Extend and integrate the Upfield line with Melbourne’s growing northern communities, including through innovative means
    • Ensure local job, skill and procurement pathways are provided for Merri-bek residents and businesses to support construction works.

    To learn more about this advocacy priority, read Fact Sheet - Upgrade and duplicate the Upfield Rail Corridor (PDF 340kb)

     

Supporting Projects and Initiatives

  • Our ask: More frequent and improved bus services across Merri-bek, particularly through enhanced east-west connections, and for our municipality’s northern suburbs, namely Fawkner.

    Our aim: Provide fair and sustainable transport options throughout Merri-bek, particularly Fawkner, to increase patronage throughout Merri-bek’s bus network which will help address local congestion and amenity outcomes.

    While Merri-bek proudly has high rates of residents who travel to work via public transport (25% compared to 15% in greater Melbourne), most people (51%) still travel to work by car.

    With limited public transport and bus options, car dependency across the northern suburbs of Merri-bek is particularly high. In Fawkner, 66.3% of residents utilise a car as their primary mode of transport to and from work, with 14.6% of Fawkner households owning three or more vehicles.

    Council’s 2019 Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy identified that only 2% of trips originate via bus services, and only 3% of work-related trips commence with local buses. In Fawkner only 0.7% of residents access the bus for work purposes.

    Compounding these issues is the fact that many bus services across Merri-bek still do not fully integrate east-west with the local train, tram and active transport networks.

    In the north there are primarily two bus routes servicing Fawkner (Bus 530 and Bus 531). They follow slow and convoluted routes, largely running north-south parallel to the Craigieburn and Upfield transport corridors, and do not efficiently or effectively connect people to key destinations.

    Furthermore, while Fawkner notionally has access to two train stations along the Upfield rail corridor at Fawkner and Gowrie, both of these are situated within Fawkner’s Cemetery and Industrial district, over the other side of Sydney Road and the Hume Highway, and in many cases are one to two kilometres away from most of Fawkner’s residential neighbourhoods to their east.

    As a result, more people drive and fewer people catch public transport, especially buses across Fawkner.

    With the last review of Fawkner bus services having occurred 12 years ago, there is no better time than now to partner with Merri-bek to review and enhance bus services with the aim to identify route and timetable changes to better connect all residents, but particularly Fawkner residents, to jobs, shops and schools through more frequent bus services.

  • Our ask: State Government invest in accessible tram stops along the Sydney Road Route 19 Tram Line and partner with Council to engage with local residents, traders and our wider community on making the Sydney Road Route 19 Tram Line more accessible for residents of all abilities.

    Our aim: Make the Sydney Road Route 19 Tram Line accessible for residents of all abilities in a fair, safe and sustainable manner.

    With a higher number of residents in Merri-bek requiring assistance with core daily activities in comparison to Greater Melbourne (6.2% compared with 4.9% respectively) , Merri-bek Council has long advocated for investment to ensure all public transport is accessible for people of all abilities.

    The Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) requires that all tram stops must be fully compliant with the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (DSAPT) by 31 December 2022, and all trams must be DSAPT compliant by 31 December 2032.

    A person with a mobility restriction cannot have an accessible tram journey without both a level-access stop and a low-floor tram. Council recognises that provision of level-access tram stops requires a partnership between State and Local Government and has demonstrated significant commitment to developing plausible options in consultation with the community.

    A Victorian Auditor General Report (VAGO) 2018-19 Report into tram stop accessibility found many of Merri-bek’s tram services do not meet the accessibility needs of passengers with mobility restrictions, and in the absence of a clear pipeline of investment, will fail to do so in coming years.

    The Auditor General identified that for 2018-19, North Coburg’s Route 19 was found to provide for 71% of low-floor tram departures, but only 14% from level access stops.

    Victoria's infrastructure strategy 2021-2051 has specifically recommended the State Government prioritise, plan for and fund public transport accessibly through tram stop upgrades, to help make progress towards the legislated 2032 accessibility targets.

    Sydney Road is one of the most heavily used roads for motor vehicles, trams, cyclists and pedestrians in Melbourne. Increasing the number of accessible tram stops along the corridor will improve safety for residents requiring assistance, meet legislated targets, and play a catalyst role in helping revitalise the urban amenity, ambience and retail experience along the longest shopping strip in the Southern Hemisphere.

  • Our ask: State Government to conduct a safety audit of Jacana railway station and develop and implement a plan to increase safety at the station.

    Our aim: To improve personal safety at Jacana railway station.

    Jacana railway station sits between Glenroy and Broadmeadows train stations, conveniently located for local residents of Merri-bek and Hume to use when catching trains on the Craigieburn line.

    A conveniently located station encourages public transport use and reduces the need for people to drive to the station, further assisting with mode shift and promoting environmentally friendly modes of travel.

    However, RACV’s 2019 On Track survey listed Jacana station as the sixth most unsafe station in the entire network.

    Safety issues at Jacana station include:

    • Inadequate lighting in the tunnel used by passengers entering the station from the west when passing under Pascoe Vale Road.
    • No mirrors to assist passengers with visibility when turning the corner from the tunnel to the platform access ramps, creating a safety hazard, particularly when shared with bicycle riders travelling along the M80 trail.
    • Poor maintenance of the station, with graffiti throughout the tunnel structure and planter boxes intended for landscaping consistently overgrown and filled with litter, including syringes.

    The Department of Transport’s Strategic Plan 2021-2025 has a focus on safe journeys for all, striving to operate a transport system that is safe and inclusive, and inspires confidence for all journeys and users. The design and maintenance of stations sits with VicTrack and VicRoads.

    While works planned to occur in the vicinity of Jacana railway station by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) as part of the Inland Rail Project around 2024 will likely address safety issues in the longer term, action is needed now to look after the personal safety of passengers at the station.

    Council is calling on the State Government to directly engage with local residents, women and non-binary people to increase safety at Jacana railway station and looks forward to an updated project timeline from the ARTC for works within the vicinity of Jacana Railway Station as part of the Inland Rail Project.

  • Our ask: Invest $2.75 million in active transport, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure in Merri-bek and partner with Council on initiatives to increase cycling and pedestrian priority, safety and experiences at crossings, including at the Nicholson/Bell Street bridge.

    Our aim: Create a safer community to live and move around in, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists, encouraging greater community health and wellbeing, the reduction of greenhouse emissions and Merri-bek’s carbon footprint and improved amenity.

    Before the COVID-19 pandemic, two thirds of all trips by Merri-bek residents were under 5km, and 60% were made by car. Community consultation revealed that many people in Merri-bek would like to walk or cycle more but don’t feel safe or supported to do so.

    Rates of cycling and pedestrian activity prior to COVID-19 saw 7% of Merri-bek residents cycling and 3% walking to work, compared with 1.4% and 3% respectively across greater Melbourne.

    A Monash University and VicHealth study showed 83% of Merri-bek residents were ‘interested in cycling but concerned’ and likely to ride a bike more often if separated bike paths were provided.

    The Victorian Government has committed to increasing active transport mode share to 25% by 2030, and Infrastructure Victoria recently recommended that government partner with councils to specifically fund pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.

    Merri-bek Council has identified $2.75 million in walking and cycling improvements that could be delivered through the following:

    • Contributing $1.4 million to replace the Harding Street bridge across Merri Creek – a $2.8 million project to create a key active transport corridor linking Merri-bek and Darebin.
    • Funding a feasibility study and designs for safe and accessible active travel options over Coburg's Bell Street bridge at the Nicholson Street intersection to address pedestrian and cyclist safety issues, particularly for Coburg High School students. View the Safe access over Bell Street Bridge fact sheet.
    • Partnering with Council to implement and fund permanent improvements from the “Ride & Stride” pilot, a behaviour change program getting kids riding, striding and scooting to school.
    • Funding the installation of new pedestrian operated signals on Merri-bek Road, Brunswick West near Walhalla Street.
    • Increasing cycling and pedestrian priority, safety and experiences at crossings through automated pedestrian callups at principal signalised intersections, quicker callup for pedestrians and cyclists at all crossings and early start and late introduction green signals for pedestrians, particularly in shopping strips and areas frequented by children and the elderly.
  • Our ask: Federal Government investment of $500,000 in local and regional partnerships to increase community resilience to climate impacts, and State Government investment of $6.5 million to electrify two of our major aquatic centres, accelerating our shift to zero emissions.

    Our aim: To protect communities by increasing resilience to climate impacts and achieving Zero Carbon Merri-bek by 2035, through efficient and 100% renewably powered energy for businesses, community and households, active and zero emissions transport and a circular economy with zero waste.

    Merri-bek has a proud history of action on environmental and sustainability issues. Council has long recognised the challenges posed by climate change and, with the community, led local efforts through:

    • declaring a ‘climate emergency’ in 2018
    • being certified as a ‘carbon neutral’ council in 2012
    • implementing actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
    • partnering with leading environmental organisations and initiatives

    Despite these local efforts, the science is continuing to tell us that to avoid permanent climate collapse more must be done to reduce our global carbon emissions to net zero as soon as possible, and keep temperature increases to less than 1.5°C over coming years.

    As an inner urban community, with high levels of socio-economic diversity, Merri-bek is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

    The Federal Government’s National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy 2021-2025 includes plans to drive investment and action through collaboration and improve climate information and services.

    Merri-bek believes a focus should also be directed to improving the resilience of individuals and communities via strategic funding of local councils to empower communities to identify and proactively manage how they are impacted by climate change.

    The State Government’s Gas Substitution Roadmap aims to reduce Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions by 45-50% by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050. Merri-bek is already acting to phase out gas from Council operations and the community and implementation of the roadmap would help this work.

    Council is pursuing Zero Carbon Merri-bek in partnership with our community to transition to zero carbon by 2035 and reduce Council emissions by 80-100% by 2030. But more needs to be done.

    Merri-bek Council is asking the Federal and State Government to invest and partner with Council to continue supporting and enhancing Merri-bek’s leading efforts around local climate change, sustainability and biodiversity initiatives.

  • Our ask: Protect and enhance the urban forest by strengthening tree protection measures, reviewing and amending the Electricity Safety Regulations and facilitating partnerships with state-owned entities to create urban forest assets in public open spaces.

    Our aim: Improve the health and wellbeing of current and future generations of people and vegetation by increasing Merri-bek’s tree canopy cover to 30% by 2050.

    Over the past two decades, Merri-bek’s urban forest has been affected by extended dry periods, increased high density housing driving steady canopy loss, inadequate protection of trees and vegetation during construction and constrained levels of maintenance.

    Between 2005 and 2016, overall canopy cover in Merri-bek declined from 15.6% to 14.2%. On private land, tree canopy cover decreased from 12% to 9% as a result of increased high-density housing.

    Residents of Merri-bek and its neighbours Darebin and Hume have been identified as some of the most vulnerable to heat, poor health, economic disadvantage and limited access to green spaces.

    Over three decades, Council and community groups’ urban forest actions have included revegetating large areas of Merri-bek’s waterways, and adding canopy trees and passive irrigation in Council’s 10,908sqm of new parks through the Park Close to Home program.

    In Melbourne’s West, Melbourne Water’s ‘Greening the Pipeline’ project is converting the Main Outfall Sewer Reserve along the Federation Trail bike path into a linear reserve featuring community gardens, new parks, cycling and walking paths. Similar tracts of land are available for greening in the north of Melbourne.

    Vegetation clearance requirements around powerlines in Victoria also impact urban forest outcomes. This is compounded by old electrical infrastructure (uninsulated low voltage service line) in Merri-bek needing greater clearance. Vegetation clearance zones in other states such are significantly less than in Victoria. A review of the Victorian Electric Line Clearance Regulations (2020), could force distribution businesses to replace old electrical infrastructure and reduce electric line clearance requirements in Victoria, allowing councils to achieve better urban forest tree canopy outcomes.

    Investment in actions and initiatives to cool and green the north are necessary to reduce the effect of climate change on residents of Merri-bek, improve its liveability and realise the goals of Plan Melbourne 2017-2050, which recognises that as our city continues to grow, more green infrastructure to help build resilience to climate change, enhance urban amenity, quality and liveability, will be required.

  • Our ask: State Government amend the Victorian Planning Scheme to elevate environmentally sustainable design targets, adopting the work undertaken by 31 Victorian councils and the Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment (CASBE).

    Our aim: Enable Merri-bek (and other councils) to implement clear guidance for new development applications to support zero carbon 2040 targets.

    With Merri-bek’s population forecast to rise by at least 22% to 230,560 by 2036, at least a further 38,000 dwellings will be required to be constructed across the municipality to support growth.

    Along with ensuring that local residents continue to be provided with a fair and meaningful say on how their neighbourhoods should evolve, Council has also been working to ensure that future development plays a major role to enhance local sustainability outcomes, including through better green infrastructure and environmental integration.

    Since 2018 Merri-bek has pursued initiatives to develop and incorporate zero carbon standards within the Merri-bek Planning Scheme, requiring new residential, mixed use and non-residential development to achieve best practice environmentally sustainable design, through better building green infrastructure such as green building facades, walls, roofs and gardens in new developments, with a focus on:

    • Future proofing new developments, by providing electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
    • Encouraging buildings to either maximise on-site roof solar photovoltaics and/or installation of a green infrastructure (roofs, walls, facades) to enable urban cooling and renewable energy.
    • Requiring consideration of future waste streams, including requiring all new development to consider landfill waste, comingled recycling, food organics and green organics.
    • Using the “Green Factor Tool’, an online tool that assists landscape designers, architects, planners and environmentally sustainable development practitioners and developers improve the environmental outcomes of their designs.

    Through Merri-bek’s leadership, 31 Victorian Councils, through CASBE, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to elevate environmentally sustainable design targets for new development to support zero carbon in the Planning Scheme. This will support councils to work towards achieving the Zero Carbon 2040 targets.

  • Our ask: State and Federal Government to maintain existing support packages to aid ongoing local economic recovery efforts, invest in new local economic development, business and job opportunities and invest in Merri-bek’s major advocacy projects.

    Our aim: To grow local business and employment initiatives, which can solidify Merri-bek as a jobs hub for locals and Melbourne’s northern region now and into the future.

    Combined with Council’s direct support measures, the Federal Government’s JobKeeper and JobSeeker Programs and the State Government’s Business, Worker and Community Support Packages were fundamental in supporting Merri-bek communities through the pandemic.

    Over 95% of local businesses surveyed in Merri-bek reported being severely and adversely impacted by COVID-19, with 12,000 Merri-bek residents in July 2021 receiving either JobSeeker or Newstart Allowance (up from 7,000 in March 2020).

    Despite Merri-bek’s employment, skill and educational outcomes continuing to improve over time, an ongoing challenge for Merri-bek is the availability of local jobs for local residents.

    Prior to the pandemic, Merri-bek had over 102,700 employed residents yet there were only 48,200 jobs situated within the municipality, and associated with our 14,821 locally based businesses.

    Only 15% of employed people in Merri-bek (or 15,000 people), actually live and work in our local area - one of the lowest rates for any local government area in Australia.

    As recognised in Council’s Economic Development Strategy (2016–2021), there are a number of opportunities that can help create more local jobs in partnership with Government, investors and other stakeholders, including through urban manufacturing, sharing economy, technology and NBN, sustainability initiatives, arts and culture (Brunswick Design District), regional cooperation, growing health and retail activities and food and beverage.

    Along with Federal and State investment into Council’s priority advocacy projects, Merri-bek is ready and willing to partner with Government to grow local business and employment initiatives, which can solidify Merri-bek as a jobs hub for locals and Melbourne’s northern region now and into the future.

  • Our ask: State Government continue to partner with Council to support the delivery of flexible and targeted early childhood services for socio-economically disadvantaged and diverse communities and fund the development of an early years hub in Brunswick. (East, Central or West)

    Our aim: To help ensure Merri-bek’s youngest are provided with the best start in life through a high-quality kindergarten experience and to create an integrated and expanded facility in Brunswick to accommodate growth and better meet the needs of families.

    Early childhood is a significant period of development. Early life experiences create the foundations for lifelong learning, behaviour and development.

    While 89% of eligible local children were participating in 4-year-old kindergarten in 2019, the forecast population growth of children in Merri-bek, a further 3,000 0-4 year-olds by 2036, will continue to place additional pressure on existing facilities and services.

    The incremental roll-out of funded 3-year-old kindergarten from 2022 to 2029, while positive, also brings challenges.
    Scarcity and high cost of land in the south, particularly Brunswick, projected unmet demand and smaller early years facilities which are at the end of their life means the expansion of some existing services is necessary, along with the creation of a new early years hub.

    In the northern suburbs of Merri-bek, including Glenroy, Fawkner and Hadfield, there are higher concentrations of socio-economic disadvantage and higher rates of developmental vulnerability and youth disengagement.

    To ensure there are the same opportunities for all children, and families across Merri-bek, Council, with funding from the Department of Education and Training (DET), has facilitated range of proactive outreach and flexible initiatives with newly arrived and vulnerable groups through bilingual kindergartens, new parent groups and immunisation sessions.

    Council has also worked with DET (Victorian School Building Authority) to develop a pipeline of projects and a co-investment strategy to ensure the timely delivery of new or expanded facilities to provide sufficient kindergarten places for all 3 and 4 year olds. The program of works includes more than 17 individual projects and estimated costs of $46.9m over seven years.

  • Our ask: Support future partnerships across all levels of government that enable large scale revitalisation, jobs and community services where they’re needed most.

    Our aim: Create vibrant, thriving neighbourhoods which meet the needs of residents, workers and visitors.

    Council’s planned health and community services precinct on Bell Street, Coburg, is an example of how Council is leading new approaches, new partnerships and new ways of leveraging assets to deliver for the community, even where this is not a traditional function of local government.

    Council first identified a gap in locally available health and community in Coburg in 2010, identifying growing shortfalls in key service areas such as general practitioners, aged care, mental health services, allied health services and childcare.

    Council has been working for more than a decade to address this need, by putting in place the policy framework, assembling an appropriate site, going out to the market to find a delivery partner and garnering a high level of community support, to be able to realise this ambitious project and deliver significant and lasting benefit to the community.

    The projected benefits of the health precinct, once complete, include:

    • A campus style range of facilities which would deliver acute and primary health care, rehabilitation, mental health, childcare, residential aged care, aged care support services (such as home care), and National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) services.
    • $160 million of direct investment by developers Coburg Health Hub and their funders in the delivery of the health precinct, creating a further $300 million of projected benefit to the local Merri-bek economy.
    • Up to 1,000 jobs in the construction and operational phases of the project.
    • Over 50% floor area proposed to be community providers and not-for-profits.
    • Diverse services for all life stages, from childcare through to aged care.
    • A high proportion of services available to those on low incomes.
    • Council is keen to work in partnership with State and Federal governments, as well as partners across other sectors, to pool our resources, networks and skills, to be able to realise more ambitious, legacy projects across Merri-bek.
  • Our ask: Federal and State investment towards the construction of new female friendly change room facilities across Merri-bek’s sport and recreation network.

    Our aim: Encourage more women and girls to play sport as our local clubs emerge from prolonged COVID-19 lockdowns.

    In 2009 Merri-bek recognised that despite 51% of local residents being female, only 8% were accessing council’s sport grounds.

    In response, Merri-bek implemented an Active Women and Girls Sport Strategy through the introduction of a Sportsground and Pavilion Allocation Policy that requested all clubs be more inclusive, or risk losing their ground allocation.

    Since then, Council has seen the number of females accessing our sport grounds rise from 8% (975) in 2009 to 23% (3021) in 2019. These numbers do not include women and girls partaking in recreational exercise, which are even higher.

    Merri-bek has proudly led the way for other councils, and is grateful for the significant support from the State Government, which has invested record amounts in dedicated female friendly sport projects.

    Investment in further projects can help us encourage more females to get fit, healthy and active as we continue to support our local sporting clubs to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic’s prolonged lockdowns.

    Merri-bek Council is seeking Federal and State Government support to help us deliver even more women and girls’ sport facilities. Priority female sport and recreation projects for Merri-bek include:

    • Holbrook Reserve Sports Pavilion, Brunswick West
    • John Pascoe Fawkner Reserve East Change Rooms, Oak Park
    • John Pascoe Fawkner Reserve West Pavilion, Oak Park
    • Ray Kibby Table Tennis Centre, Coburg North
    • Shore Reserve Sports Pavilion, Pascoe Vale
    • Moomba Park Social Rooms and Sports Pavilion, Fawkner
    • Hosken Reserve Soccer Pavilion, Coburg North
    • Hosken Reserve Merlynston Tennis Club House, Coburg North
    • Parker Reserve Baseball Pavilion, Coburg North
  • Our ask: The Federal Government to retain upfront Commonwealth block funding for the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP).

    Our aim: Allow councils to continue to provide critical services to older people, including home support, social support and transport services.

    Australia’s greatest demographic challenge is the ageing population, caused by increasing life expectancies and falling fertility rates.

    The number of Australians aged 65 years and over is projected to double to 8.9 million by 2060-61; the number of people aged 85 and older will more than triple to 1.9 million.

    Merri-bek has consistently been home to higher proportions of residents aged over 75 years, compared with the Melbourne and Australian average. Coburg, Glenroy and Brunswick are home to the highest numbers of older people.

    Merri-bek, and other Victorian councils, provide services including domestic support, meals, transport, personal care, social support including planned activity groups, and home maintenance using Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) block funding However, funding for the CHSP is only committed until 30 June 2023. The longer-term future of the CHSP is uncertain.

    The Commonwealth is creating a new Support at Home Program due to start in July 2023 in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety however Council is concerned about key aspects of the program, including:

    • The proposed funding model does not accommodate the needs of fixed cost services such as transport and social support groups.
    • Delivered meals need to be funded in a way that supports quality, and responsiveness, community capacity building and consumer wellbeing.
    • The absence of sector support and development funding to local government on an ongoing basis means that councils cannot facilitate planning and development for aged services.
    • Changes to the assessment model and service navigation do not reflect the importance of local government as a key point of contact to older residents.

    Continuity of care and service availability for frail older Australians are now at risk. The CHSP should be continued permanently and further expanded with recurrent block funding to recognise the program’s important role in caring for our ageing population.

  • Our ask: Foster strategic partnerships between State and Federal Government and Merri-bek Council to support Council’s advocacy priority campaign.

    Our aim: To help deliver new economic, transport, creative, health and wellbeing outcomes, as our community collectively works to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Council plays a leading role in helping coordinate and deliver local facilities and service across our municipality, however, we recognise we cannot do it alone.

    That is why, along with setting our major new advocacy priorities, Council welcomes the opportunity to partner with government, non-government and community organisations, to help build awareness, momentum and support around respective priorities.

    To begin with, Council will be collaborating with our existing regional partners including:

    • M9
    • Northern Council’s Alliance
    • NorthLink
    • Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action

    Building on these strong foundations, Council also looks forward to engaging and partnering with the Federal Government, State Government, relevant departments, and entities, national and state peak organisations, as well as our local community organisations who have a proud record of supporting broader advocacy efforts.

    Together we can collectively work to help secure major new commitments, including for the Upfield Rail Corridor, 33 Saxon Street Creative and Cultural Hub, and the Fawkner Leisure Centre, which can play catalyst roles in supporting municipal and regional recovery efforts, and leave a lasting legacy for future generations of Merri-bek residents.

  • Our ask: State and Federal Government to partner with Merri-bek to protect and promote human rights by ensuring that all people in our community have dignified and equitable access to information, goods, services and life opportunities as a result of good governance and democracy.

    Our aim: Ensure that every member of the community is supported to fully participate in the life of the city and enjoy self-determination in decisions that affect them.

    Merri-bek is committed to advancing inclusion and social cohesion throughout our community, as outlined in Council’s Social Cohesion Plan 2020-2025 and Human Rights Policy 2016-2026.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community

    In October 2021 Council renewed its Statement of Commitment to Australia’s First Peoples, strengthening its commitment to the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Merri-bek. It sets out Council’s vision for reconciliation, and outlines what Council recognises, supports and commits to, including the process of naming and re-naming spaces, places, roads and parks in the City of Merri-bek.

    Council strongly supports processes towards self-determination and local, regional or national Treaty or Treaties that enshrine the rights of Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

    Mental health

    With over one quarter of Merri-bek adults diagnosed with anxiety or depression, Council’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan highlighted an increase in mental health impacts since the pandemic, particularly on low income households.

    Mental health promotion and prevention work can prevent many common mental health disorders from occurring. Merri-bek, and other councils, already resource programs and initiatives that promote and support good mental health in our communities. This includes through family violence prevention programs, youth programs, maternal child health programs, community programs that promote social cohesion, established advisory committees to hear the community's lived experience and arts programs that connect community. 

    Merri-bek is calling for local government to be recognised and
    resourced for mental health prevention and promotion activities and be resourced to strengthen data collection and the research evidence that will enable local government to identify critical gaps and opportunities to enhance its initiatives, alongside
    availability and access to mental health services in the north.

    Family violence

    In 2020-2021 there were 1,942 incidents of family violence recorded in Merri-bek, directly affecting 1,407, women, and 134 children. More recent research indicates that since COVID-19 many women in Australia have experienced an onset or escalation of violence and abuse. Council remains committed to combating family violence issues through strategies including supporting and convening the Moreland Family Violence Network to advocate for housing, resources, and funding and cultural change to create safe spaces for all gender identities and their children to escape violence.

    Raise the Rate

    Merri-bek has proudly supported the ‘Raise the Rate for Good’ Campaign for many years, seeking to reduce poverty and inequality throughout Australia, as well as in Merri-bek. The key recommendations for the campaign include:

    • Increase the base rate of JobSeeker Payment by at least $25 a day, and ensure everyone receives at least $65 a day.
    • Ongoing indexation of payments in line with wage movements at least twice per year.
    • Establishment of a Social Security Commission to advise the Parliament on the ongoing adequacy of income support payments.
    Social, affordable and public housing

    Research shows Merri-bek needs between 7,000 and 10,500 new affordable homes by 2036. There is an urgent need for safe housing options for people who need emergency or transitional housing. Council’s Affordable Housing Action Plan (AHAP) aims to increase affordable housing in Merri-bek through policy, advocacy, applied skills and investment.

    Council asks Homes Victoria to deliver a minimum of 1,000 new social homes in Merri-bek by 2036. Old and substandard public housing sites in Coburg North, Glenroy and Brunswick West need to be renewed. Council supports the State Government to use the Retain, Repair and Reinvest model to renovate Melbourne’s 44 public housing towers, rather than demolishing them. Council also calls on the State Government to develop public housing exclusively on public housing estates, cease plans to use the Ground Lease Model to privatise public land that housing estates are on and build public housing on disused State Government sites.

    In addition, the State Government should follow on from the support of Council in providing land to Moreland Affordable Housing Ltd in Wilkinson St Brunswick by providing significant capital funding for the affordable housing development on the site.

    People experiencing homelessness

    Homelessness exists in Merri-bek in many forms including in overcrowded, insecure and inappropriate housing and, the most visible form of homelessness, rough sleeping. During the 2021 calendar year, VincentCare recorded 264 people rough sleeping in Merri-bek. Council receives a significant number of enquiries related to rough sleeping and supports service coordination, information provision and community advocacy for people experiencing insecure housing.

    Merri-bek aims to ensure a human rights approach to people in public space. Merri-bek also wants to ensure a health equity approach to support people into housing, where people sleeping rough are identified and referred to appropriate services and supported in securing and sustaining housing, thereby reducing time spent sleeping rough and reducing the associated health impacts.

    Gambling reform

    Merri-bek has been at the forefront of the campaign to reduce gambling harm since the 1990s, when pokies were first introduced into Victoria. In Merri-bek there are 641 poker machines that take more than $60 million every year from our community. Poker machines are designed to addict, and they remain the source of the vast majority of damage done to the community from gambling.

    Council continues to call for the State Government to introduce maximum bet limits and maximum losses per hour on poker machines. Federally, Merri-bek calls for measures that mitigate against the impacts of gambling advertising and online gambling.

    Refugees and asylum seekers

    Merri-bek has a long history of welcoming migrants from across the globe over successive generations, and has proudly worked to support and advocate on behalf of refugees and asylum seekers. Through the Local Government Mayoral Taskforce for Supporting People Seeking Asylum, we have been involved in leading the ‘Back Your Neighbour’ Campaign, to help ensure the rights and wellbeing of asylum seekers remain on the Federal Government’s agenda.

    The campaign calls for the Federal Government to:

    • Replace the existing ‘Fast Track’ system with a single Refugee Status Determination process and an independent, timely and fair merits review.
    • Replace Temporary Protection Visas with a permanent humanitarian visa.
    • Increase funding to urgently clear the backlog of asylum applications and appeals.
    • Provide access to Medicare, income support, employment, mental health and other vital service.
    • And calls on state and territory governments to:
    • Provide funding to local services who are supporting individuals and families seeking asylum.
    Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer,
    Asexual and Aromantic communities (LGBTIQA+)

    Merri-bek's 2016-2026 Human Right Strategy commits to a Merri-bek that is a safe and welcoming city for LGBTIQA+ people, striving to ensure that Merri-bek’s services are accessible to and appropriate to the needs of LGBTIQA+ residents and visitors. Council believe our laws should protect everyone equally, no matter who we are, who we love, or what we believe in.

    Council call on Federal and State Governments to oppose dangerous and divisive Bills such as the Religious Discrimination Bill 2021 and continue to advocate for strong anti-discrimination legislation to protect all communities.