"Community safety, connection and cohesion is at the heart of this roadmap for all the services and projects we will deliver for our community," Mayor Louise Crawford said today.
Plan for Port Phillip is a 10-year plan with a focus on the first four years.
This is the first Plan - and budget - to be delivered over the four-year term of this Council.
"Before developing the Plan, we asked ourselves 'what makes a safe, cohesive and connected community?' We then sought community input, including from a 40-member Community Panel," Cr Crawford said.
"This Plan reflects the priorities we heard from our community, both online and in person, and the contributions of about 1500 community members."
Common themes expressed by community members and embedded in the Plan for Port Phillip include:
Community safety - additional $250,000 to fund actions flowing from the Community Safety Roundtable and new Community Safety Plan, an additional Local Laws officer and investment in the public place CCTV network, boosted by $1.5 million after advocacy to the Australian Government.
Community connection and cohesion - extra $250,000 towards addressing loneliness and isolation, social connection and combating discrimination, racism and anti-Semitism and $2.3 million over four years for affordable housing and homelessness.
Improved amenity - additional $200,000 to uplift city amenity, including increased street cleaning and pressure washing, and an extra $9 million over the next decade towards improving roads and local infrastructure.
Events and festivals - consolidation of St Kilda Festival for an additional $450,000 to be invested in Arts and Community Strengthening initiatives.
Greener City, including access to open space - additional $400,000 to improve greening, including the development of urban forest precinct plans and an extra $4.5 million for the acquired Sandridge public open space.
Financially responsible budget - a three per cent average general rates increase in line with the rates cap. The Victorian Government's rates cap has been set significantly below inflation, which has put pressure on Council's ability to fund and deliver services. Despite this, the budget maintains an ongoing efficiency target. Council understands the cost of living impact on our community and has looked for ways to keep fee increases low and to deliver more equitable outcomes such as the private waste rebate.
Cr Crawford thanked community members who provided valuable feedback and ideas during the extensive community engagement:
Suggestions incorporated into the Plan and budget include:
- one-off funding of up to $295,000 to the Port Melbourne Bowls Club for improvement to enhance female amenities and ensure compliance with standards for accessible toilets (funding to be matched by Club)
- $50,000 increase to the Cultural Development Fund - Festivals and Events
- two-year extension to the Port Phillip Community Group for their service agreement and delivery of the Share the Food Program
- $40,000 to the Clarendon & Coventry Street Business Association to support the establishment of a special rating scheme
- $43,000 to increase base funding to South Port Day Links and $60,000 towards a volunteer coordinator at South Port Community Centre to strengthen local volunteer organisations for two years.
- $150,000 for St Kilda Community Housing to contribute towards housing solutions for people experiencing homelessness in St Kilda.
Plan for Port Phillip also embraces an updated 2021 Community Vision - "a liveable and vibrant city that enhances community connection and wellbeing".
"This wide-ranging Plan - with its focus on community safety, connection and cohesion - is key to achieving the refreshed Vision. I want to thank everyone who took the time to help us develop this roadmap for serving our community - both now and for years to come," Cr Crawford said.
