Our Council engaged with local candidates on our election priorities which were detailed in a “pitchbook” and website.
Josh Burns, the returning Labor Member for the seat of Macnamara, committed to the following local projects during the election campaign:
- Labor will invest $3 million to fund the Fishermans Bend Transport Link Feasibility Study. The Study is a first step to determine the best way to deliver public transport links into the heart of Fishermans Bend, including examining the option of trackless trams. This Study will also consider the most appropriate phasing of delivery.
- Investment worth $11.7 million in flood mitigation works along Elster Creek, as well as further upgrading the Elsternwick Park Nature Reserve. This funding is additional to the $6 million in federal funding announced in January.
- Five million in funding for the Albert Park precinct to upgrade facilities for community sport. This project will be delivered in partnership with the Victorian Government and Parks Victoria through the Albert Park Masterplan.
During the campaign, Amanda Rishworth, then Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education, wrote to Mayor Marcus Pearl committing Labor to work with the Victorian Government and Council to look to deliver improvements for childcare centres which are no longer fit for purpose due and to their age and do not meet contemporary building codes or DDA standards.
We also welcome the Labor policy commitments below which align with our federal advocacy priorities:
Climate change
Labor’s Powering Australia plan focuses on creating jobs, cutting power bills and reducing emissions by boosting renewable energy. The Plan includes upgrades to the electricity grid, investment in green materials and clean energy component manufacturing, new solar banks and investment in community batteries.
Housing
The $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund will build 30,000 new social and affordable housing properties in its first five years and create thousands of jobs. Each year, investment returns from the Housing Australia Future Fund will be transferred to the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) to pay for social and affordable housing projects.
Electric vehicle charging stations
The $500 million Driving the Nation Fund will focus on increasing the number of charging stations to make owning an electric vehicle more convenient. Labor has also announced an Electric Vehicle discount scheme.
LRCI and Blackspot funding
Labor will expand the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program by an additional $250 million to allow for more priority projects and local road upgrades to be upgraded.
Council will work with the Federal Government to progress these election commitments.
Following this success, we have started a similar election advocacy campaign for the November Victorian Election.
