Liam McNally
At a quarterly review of Melton council’s 2021-2025 Council and Wellbeing plan, 55 of 59 actions for this year are complete or on-track for completion.
The review, brought before council at a meeting on Monday, May 29, showed 11 completed actions, 44 on-track actions, and four behind schedule.
The four actions behind schedule include the development of an affordable housing policy, the development of a masterplan for Lake Caroline, the preparation of an employment and industrial land strategy and the development of a council work placement program that’s inclusive of people with a disability.
Melton council organisational performance director Peter Leerson updated councillors on the progress of the items not on track at the meeting.
Mr Leerson said a draft affordable housing policy will be brought back on track by the end of the financial year.
“Officers have also been engaging with Homes Victoria to be a part of a pilot to establish a local social and affordable housing plan for the region,” he said.
Mr Leerson said the Lake Caroline masterplan will be finalised later this calendar year, and that a background report has been completed for an employment and industrial land strategy but due to “complex supply and demand issues” a draft strategy is now scheduled for completion in early 2024.
“The final one is to develop a council work placement program for our local community inclusive of people with a disability. I’m pleased to say that a program has been identified and will commence this financial year, ensuring this action is back on track for the next quarterly report,” he said.
Councillor Sophie Ramsay said she was “very pleased to hear the progress” of the council and wellbeing plan actions from July 2022 to March this year.
“We made our community grants program more accessible to better empower community actions on local initiatives, delivered a new community education program for community sport recreation and leisure, a new training program to help community sporting groups improve their governance and financial sustainability, we reviewed the Toolern precinct structure plan and have made it easier to get permits for skip bins and goods on footpaths,” she said.
“These are much needed projects that our community will value … I look forward to seeing future positive progress over the next quarter.”
