Council advocates for external funding for much-needed projects and services

In addition to rates revenue, Council must secure additional funding from external sources by advocating to the State and Federal Governments to ensure much-needed infrastructure projects and services are funded.

We advocate on behalf of the community to ensure money is invested into better public transport, trails, roads, affordable housing, education, environmental projects, community health services and more.

As the largest metropolitan Council with 55 townships, Council delivers more than 120 services including the maintenance of 734km of unsealed roads in rural and urban areas. Rates money alone isn’t enough to provide the volume of projects and services that our communities need.

Council’s advocacy priorities align with our Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2017-2021 (PDF, 6MB), and  Council Plan 2017-2021 (PDF, 7MB) which focuses on delivering services and infrastructure to support connected and healthy communities, protect and enhance our natural environment, ensure a vibrant economy and support agriculture and tourism.

Council’s advocacy efforts recently helped secure funding for the following projects:

$10 million from Federal Government’s Regional Growth Fund for the Rivers and Ridges project to complete funding for Warburton Mountain Bike Destination (Stage 1), Yarra Valley Trail from Lilydale to Yarra Glen, RidgeWalk and Warburton Community Recreation Precinct. $4 million from the Federal Government towards community sporting facilities including $1m to finalise funding for Esther Park Community Sports Pavilion upgrade at Mooroolbark, $1m to complete funding for Wandin North sporting pavilion and new netball court, $1m Kimberley Reserve ground and lighting upgrades, and $1m towards a  new community and sporting pavilion at Mt Evelyn Recreation Reserve. $4.5 million from the Federal Government to establish and operate a new Youth Health Hub and Headspace in Lilydale to deliver mental health services for Yarra Ranges and eastern suburbs. $8.75 million from the State Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund for Yarra Valley Trail ($2.5m), RidgeWalk ($2m), Warburton Mountain Bike Destination ($3m) and Esther Park synthetic soccer pitch, Mooroolbark ($1.25m).

The view from Kalorama, which is part of the proposed trail route for RidgeWalk