Photo: Twitter

Cr Hedditch said the documents lay the foundation for service delivery and programs for the next four years to help create an inclusive, liveable, prosperous city.

“We strive to be innovative and responsive - and put community first - the extensive engagement on these important documents shows we are living by this promise.

“The Budget provides resources to celebrate Brimbank's highly diverse and richly talented multicultural community and to promote tolerance, inclusion and respect.

“Arts and culture, festivals and events, sport and recreation all play a part in building an inclusive, resilient community, and the budget provides additional resources for this community building to continue.

“We have increased funding to neighbourhood houses and community grants for festivals and events and fast tracked work on a Sports Facilities Development Plan. 

“We are developing a community infrastructure plan that will ensure that we have appropriate infrastructure into the future.  The plan will also identify the level of investment we will be seeking from state and federal government to address pockets of disadvantage in
our community.

“Brimbank needs more community infrastructure and we have a healthy $60.1 million Capital Works program for next year to improve our buildings, roads, parks, town centres and other operational assets.

“This represents the first year in a ten year, $500 million program to help Brimbank thrive and transition into a stronger, smarter and more resilient city.

“We have also allocated more funding to our advocacy strategy and we will continue lobbying State and Federal Government for more backing to help the city and community grow. 

“With the rate of growth in Melbourne’s West, Brimbank is at a tipping point where the decisions at all levels of government will have a profound impact on our ability to succeed in the 21^st century.

“There is no doubt that Brimbank is in a period of transition and the focus of this Council is to gain strength from our diversity and ensure we have quality community infrastructure to support liveability.

“We also want to make sure our community have good access to education and jobs by transforming education and business and delivering targeted economic development initiatives. 

“We are the heart of Melbourne’s booming west and we need to leverage off our history of innovation to make sure Brimbank prospers and reaches its exciting potential.

“Despite the rate cap at 2 per cent, a limited income and external cost pressures, we are deeply passionate about the business of improving our City and community.

“We need community, government, business and philanthropic sector working together, sharing the load more equitably and putting their stakes in the ground with Council to support a growing and fast changing Brimbank.

“These outcomes focused partnerships are essential for the city's successful future. 

“Our Council Plan and Budget have set expectations high, but we want to be bold and build on our strengths to tackle the key issues we face to realise the vision for Brimbank.”