Premier

Growing Suburbs Fund To Help Booming Outer Suburbs

11 May 2016

The Andrews Labor Government today launched a new $50 million fund to help Melbourne’s booming outer suburbs build the community facilities they need to keep up with their growing populations.

The Growing Suburbs Fund (GSF), previously known as the Interface Growth Fund, will provide grants to Victoria’s 10 outer suburban councils for projects such as parks, playgrounds, sporting facilities and community centres.

Councils in Melbourne’s outer suburbs are facing a number of challenges as their populations grow, with facilities and services often failing to keep up. That’s why we’re helping councils build and upgrade community facilities to ensure our outer suburban communities don’t get left behind.

Today Minister for Local Government Natalie Hutchins launched the GSF at the official opening of the new Epping Community Services Hub, the first of 34 projects from last year’s fund to be completed.

The Epping Community Services Hub will give a wide range of community organisations and local residents access to much needed space so they can deliver vital community services.

With the Brotherhood of St Laurence already confirmed as lead tenant, the Epping Services Hub will provide support for vulnerable young people, migrant settlement and support, counselling, family, parent and relationship support, disability support through education and a social enterprise, education and training.

The 10 councils eligible for this year’s GSF funding are Cardinia, Mornington Peninsula, Mitchell, Nillumbik, and Yarra Ranges Shires and the Cities of Casey, Hume, Melton and Wyndham, Whittlesea.

Applications will open in June.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Local Government Natalie Hutchins

“The Andrews Labor Government is helping councils in the cities fastest growing suburbs invest in important community infrastructure for local residents through our $50 million Growing Suburbs Fund.”

“We’re building and upgrading parks, playgrounds and libraries so Victoria’s growing communities don’t get left behind.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Thomastown, Bronwyn Halfpenny

“The new community hub in Epping is a great initiative for bringing services into the area. It brings together many community organisations working together to support local people.”

“This is another great investment in Thomastown and another vote of confidence in our community by the Andrews Labor Government.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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