A Year of Action - Communities

Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Victoria’s population is growing at a rate not seen since the post-War years. Between 2001 and 2006, Melbourne’s population increased by 270,000 – 30% above forecasts. Victoria’s population is now forecast to increase by 1 million people by 2020 – a decade earlier than predicted.

That growth is placing unprecedented pressure on existing services and infrastructure.

The Brumby Government is working hard to ensure new services and infrastructure keep pace with the changing needs of Victoria’s rapidly growing community. The Government is also working to remove the barriers that keep people from participating fully in their communities, by addressing disadvantage and providing new opportunities and support networks.

Community building is a major project unlike bricks-and-mortar projects, such as the new Royal Children’s Hospital, because this major project is in perpetual motion. Community building can never stop because there is always another child needing an education, another family needing healthcare, another new community needing public transport, another person with a disability needing support and access, and another refugee needing help to start a new life.

After all, there’s more to building a strong community building than just bricks and mortar.

“There’s more to community building than just new buildings. Community building is also about social inclusion.” – Peter Batchelor, Minister for Community Development

5. Improving Urban Development and Planning

Victoria is experiencing its biggest population boom since the post-War years. The Brumby Government has rolled out a range of new initiatives to ensure we build new communities, not just subdivisions. Over the last 12 months, the Government has:
  • Rezoned all remaining developable land inside the urban growth boundary in the growth areas – creating a new Urban Growth Zone.
  • Replaced the overly complex planning processes currently used in growth areas with new comprehensive Precinct Structure Plans.
  • Completed the review of the Melbourne 2030 strategy and made adjustments to ensure a balanced approach in established areas and growth corridors.
  • Invested $24.2 million in new Melbourne 2030 initiatives – such as establishing Development Assessment Committees with local councils to make joint-planning decisions on matters of metropolitan significance, simplifying planning in activity centres, and working with local government to develop agreed housing growth requirements for each municipality.
  • Provided a package of funding and other measures to help non-metropolitan councils address urban development, economic growth and housing challenges.

 “The Brumby Government is taking action for families and Melbourne’s newest suburb, Williams Landing, is a great example of building a new community around infrastructure to create a greener, more liveable and sustainable region for Victorians.” – Justin Madden, Minister for Planning

6. Accelerating Public Transport Improvements

The Brumby Government is tackling congestion through a range of short and medium-term actions, as well as investing in public transport to address the unprecedented growth in demand. Over the past 12 months, the Government has:
  • Increased to 18 the number of new trains under order for metropolitan service, and leased five new maxi-trams.
  • Introduced an extra 48 V/Line services per week, and increased to 22 the number of new V/Locity carriages under order for rural services.
  • Introduced the Early Bird scheme – offering free travel on metropolitan trains that arrive at their destination before 7 a.m. – to shift commuters out of the peak.
  • Revamped the train timetable to create more than 200 new services across the network each week, resulting in six new morning peak services and three new afternoon peak services each day.
  • Introduced a new North Melbourne Station to Melbourne University shuttle bus. This provides direct shuttle services running every three minutes during the morning and evening peaks, transferring up to 1,000 passengers an hour and saving commuters at least 10 minutes.
  • Announced the opening up of the future running of the Tram and Train network to international tender.
  • Begun trialling 50 environmentally friendly taxis.
  • Extended the Broadmeadows railway line by 10 kilometres to Craigieburn – with more than 50 services scheduled to and from the city each day.

 “Since 1999, our Government has overhauled the regional train network, added more than 1,000 extra weekly services to the metropolitan train system, expanded tram services and improved bus links across the State. But there is always more to do.” – Lynne Kosky, Minister for Public Transport

7. Roads

The Brumby Government is investing in new road projects to cut congestion so that Victorians can spend less time in traffic and more time at home with their families. Over the last 12 months, the Government has:
  • Opened EastLink five months ahead of schedule, slashing travel times for people in the eastern and south eastern suburbs.
  • Opened the Dandenong Bypass and the Pakenham Bypass, reducing commercial and freight traffic in Dandenong and Pakenham.
  • Made progress on the Deer Park Bypass and commenced the Monash M1 upgrade, which will reduce travel times and increase safety on one of Melbourne’s most important corridors.
  • Opened the Bendigo Box inner-city road project, as well as the next stage of the Calder Highway.
  • Launched a new $112.7 million road congestion plan to ease peak hour pressure in inner Melbourne.
  • Launched a new Road Safety Strategy – Arrive Alive 2 – that aims to reduce the road toll by 30% over the next 10 years.
  • Committed $110 million towards duplication of the Princes Highway West from Waurn Ponds to Winchelsea, $40 million to build a new duplicated section of the Western Highway from Melton to Bacchus Marsh, and $65 million to take the Geelong Ring Road from Anglesea Road, near Hams Road, through the Blue Circle Quarry, to connect with the Princes Highway West near Draytons Road.

“The Brumby Government is taking action to give Victorians with a disability the support they need, ease the pressures on their families and carers, and assist community organisations to help people with a disability to participate in the wider community.” – Lisa Neville, Minister for Community Services

 “The Government will formally respond to the East-West Links Needs Assessment later in the year. We will consider all public comments and the State’s other transport priorities when making that decision – to deliver the best transport system for Victoria.” – Tim Pallas, Minister for Roads and Ports

8. Tackling Disadvantage

A critical part of stronger communities is providing more support and opportunities for people who are disadvantaged. The Brumby Government believes that as we take the initiatives needed to lock in our State’s prosperity, no Victorian should be left behind. Over the last 12 months, the Government has:
  • Committed $1 billion in this year’s State Budget to address social disadvantage through A Fairer Victoria, with particular emphasis on services for mental health, disability and children at risk.
  • Reduced waiting lists in public housing by more than 1,200 households as major projects begin on the record $500 million investment in public housing, with projects underway in East Reservoir, Ashwood/Chadstone and other suburbs.
  • Committed $50 million in partnership with Grocon to build an innovative new housing facility in Elizabeth Street for up to 120 long-term homeless people – with health services, training and employment help on-site.
  • Expanded the network of Koori Courts around the State.
  • Established school support and After School Homework programs for students from refugee backgrounds.
  • Funded free kindergarten programs for three-year-old children known to child protection services.
  • Committed $111 million in funding towards mental health reform, with a focus on prevention, early intervention and recovery.
  • Committed a record $233.4 million to boost disability services across the State.
  • Detailed Wannik – a new education strategy for Indigenous students – to lift educational achievements and job prospects.
  • Commenced a program to deliver 25 new Men’s Sheds.

 “When we came to office, the statewide public housing waiting list stood at more than 40,000 applicants. Through our commitment to increasing the housing stock, we have cut that by around 15%.”  Richard Wynne, Minister for Housing

9. Community Safety and Justice

Victoria is Australia’s safest State. This fact is a credit to the hard work and professionalism of Victoria Police, and demonstrates the benefits of giving emergency services personnel the support and resources they need to get the job done. Over the last 12 months, the Brumby Government has:

  • Kept Victoria safe – with Victoria again recording the lowest crime rate in the country.
  • Launched a new Road Safety Strategy – Arrive Alive 2 – that aims to reduce the road toll by 30% over the next 10 years.
  • Launched Victoria Police’s new 5-year strategic plan, The Way Ahead 2008-2013 – which aims to reduce the crime rate by 12% by 2013.
  • Committed a record $198.3 million to increase access to justice services and resolve disputes sooner – including a focus on low-cost alternative dispute resolution initiatives, a new specialist sexual assault prosecution unit based in regional Victoria, and the establishment of a world-first Victorian Coronial Council.
  • Boosted police numbers by 100 – on top of the 1,400 extra recruited between 1999 and 2006.
  • Fitted in-car video cameras into regional police cars and provided funding for new firearms for Victoria Police.
  • Impounded the vehicles of the 5,000th hoon driver and set up a Crime-stoppers Hoon Hotline 1-800-333-000, introduced new anti-graffiti offences, and extended Community Correctional Services’ Graffiti Removal Program.
  • Finalised a new Police enterprise bargaining agreement – including a commitment from police members to work to reduce crime by a further 10% from committed new resources and greater flexibility in staffing.
  • Established a new 50-strong Safer Streets Taskforce to deal with issues of alcohol related violence in entertainment areas.
  • Doubled the penalties for carrying weapons and brought in new regulations to target illegal drug labs.
  • Opened 18 new police stations, 12 CFA stations and the new VICSES logistics centre.
  • Rolled out new vehicles and equipment to CFA Brigades and SES units, including Trentham, Stawell, Werribee, Noorongong, Lara, Colac, Hamilton, St Arnaud, Barnawartha and Kerang.
  • Legislated to prevent prisoners such as Julian Knight from writing to victims or the families of victims.
  • Boosted the powers of the Office of Police Integrity.
  • Introduced landmark legislation to protect victims of family violence.


 “The Brumby Government is taking action to make our streets safer ith some of the toughest sex offender laws in the country. These ew laws will ensure high-risk sex offenders with adult victims can be upervised post-sentence with limitations on where they can live and equirements such as constant electronic monitoring.”  Bob Cameron, Minister for Corrections