A statement from Brimbank Mayor, Cr Jasmine Nguyen
Brimbank City Council welcomes significant investments in health and education in Melbourne’s west in the 2022-2023 Victorian budget, but is disappointed that the opportunities and ideas connected to the Sunshine Precinct Opportunity Statement leveraging the Melbourne Airport Rail project is still without funding.
Prior to the State Election in November 2018, the Victorian Government announced that ‘there will need to be a significant redevelopment of the Sunshine area,’ and that the Sunshine Superhub will ‘become another Southern Cross Station.’
In November 2021, Council welcomed the State Government’s announcement of the Sunshine Precinct Opportunity Statement.
This was followed by the consultation earlier this year on the nine key project ideas to help transform the Sunshine Precinct.
Despite these developments, and given the 2022-23 Victorian Budget is the final budget before the next State Election in November 2022, the Victorian Government is yet to provide any certainty on the financing and delivery of this key project.
Whilst Council is disappointed that funding remains to be committed for the Sunshine and Albion Precincts, we are grateful for the Victorian Government’s investment in multiple initiatives within the City of Brimbank.
These include funding for:
- Upgrading existing facilities at St Albans Heights Primary School ($13.45 million)
- Signal upgrades at the intersection of McIntyre Road and Phoenix Street in Sunshine North
- Vaults footpath renewals at Keilor Cemetery
- Supporting creative industries and artists in Melbourne’s west ($2.4 million)
Brimbank City Council also welcomes the more than $900 million commitment to build the new Melton Hospital, funding to expand the emergency department at the Werribee Mercy Hospital and the $14.9 million to upgrade part of the Melton Highway in Plumpton. These investments will make a positive difference to all residents of Melbourne’s west.
In addition, we look forward to the progression of the initiatives that were funded in last year’s State Budget, particularly the $8m mental health and wellbeing service for Brimbank that will be opened later this year.
Ahead of the 2022 Victorian State Election, Council will continue to work with not only the government, but also the State Coalition and other non-government parties, to advocate for funding to redevelop both Sunshine and Albion stations as well as the surrounding precincts, as is outlined in Brimbank’s Sunshine Priority Precinct Vision 2050.
