The welcome announcement of $350,000 in funding from the Victorian Government for the Broadmeadows Suburban Revitalisation program has been celebrated across Hume City today.
Minister for Suburban Development Melissa Horne was joined by Frank McGuire, Member for Broadmeadows and Mayor of Hume City, Cr Carly Moore at Town Hall Broadmeadows for the announcement.
Council's Hume Winter Lights Festival is one of three projects set to receive funding which will see the return of the festival mid-winter 2023.
Held for the first time this year in 2022, the Hume Winter Lights Festival was a free, after-dark festival held at the iconic Town Hall Broadmeadows precinct where 4,000 attendees were blown away by the transformation of the space into a glowing winter wonderland.
The event was highly successful in attracting visitors to the region, getting locals out and about and revitalised the profile of Hume, showcasing to all, what Hume has to offer.
The festival was also announced as a shortlisted nominee for the Best National Event at the Australian Event Awards and Symposium this week and is also competing as a state nominee for the categories of, 'Best New Event' and 'Best Live Music, Cultural Event.'
Other projects to receive funding include the social enterprise Common Bean Café in Banksia Gardens, set to receive a further $70,000 in addition to $125,000 announced earlier this year. The re-establishment of this project will provide sustainable, long-term benefits to the community by offering employment and on-the-job training to highly disadvantaged young people in Hume.
The third project to receive an investment of $130,000 is Phase one of the Economic Inclusion Action Plan developed by Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre and Grameen Australia. This project will be delivered through the combined efforts of State government, local government, community organisations and local businesses working together. The project aims to support and boost local, inclusive employment and training opportunities for migrants and refugees throughout the Hume community.
Council thanks the Victorian Government, the Hon. Melissa Horne MP and Frank McGuire MP, for their continued support under the Suburban Revitalisation Program in ensuring that residents in Broadmeadows and throughout Hume have significant support for the economic and social prosperity of the community.
Quotes to be attributes to Hume City Mayor Cr Carly Moore:
"It gives me great pleasure to welcome this announcement in Broadmeadows today which will help see the return of the Hume Winter Lights Festival in 2023."
"After the challenges we have faced throughout the last two-years, projects such as these are vital in restoring and revitalising our community as a growing and thriving place to live, work and visit. I would like to thank the Victorian Government and all those involved in supporting these exciting projects over the coming months."
