What's been happening
Since its establishment in 2015, the Growing Suburbs Fund has supported 346 critical local infrastructure projects across Melbourne’s diverse and fast-growing outer suburbs, with an investment of $425 million. Across Melbourne, the Fund represents a total infrastructure investment of $1.2 billion, creating more than 11,340 jobs to date.Since its establishment in 2015, the Growing Suburbs Fund has supported 346 critical local infrastructure projects across Melbourne’s diverse and fast-growing outer suburbs, with an investment of $425 million. Across Melbourne, the Fund represents a total infrastructure investment of $1.2 billion, creating more than 11,340 jobs to date.
On Wednesday 15th February 2023 the Minister for Local Government, Melissa Horne MP opened the Whittlesea Public Gardens Revitalisation. The opening marks the 200th Growing Suburbs Fund project to be completed since the Fund began in 2015. The Whittlesea Public Gardens Revitalisation is a $4,000,000 project, delivered by Whittlesea City Council in partnership with the Victorian Government. This project is supported by a $2,000,000 contribution from the 2019-20 Growing Suburbs Fund, with Whittlesea City Council contributing the remaining $2,000,000 towards the project.
The Whittlesea Public Gardens revitalisation project has delivered key facilities and infrastructure to elevate the Gardens up to major community and regional park standards. The park now provides a recreational asset of regional significance and is a destination hub for the northern suburbs.
As part of a three-stage development, funding provided by the 2019-20 Growing Suburbs Fund in stage one has contributed towards the reinvigoration of the Gardens with modern spaces, and greater accessibility and community safety.
Stage one of the project has seen the delivery of:
- New modern playground featuring new play equipment (large connected play towers, double flying fox, rope climbing unit, swings, slides, in-ground trampoline, rocker)
- Nature play space
- New learn-to-ride area featuring roundabouts, speed bumps, intersections and crossings
- Additional social gathering spaces and barbeques
- New public toilets
- New park lighting.
- Landscaping.
“The Growing Suburbs Fund is creating a significant legacy of better facilities for communities right across our fastest-growing suburbs.”
“The Whittlesea Public Gardens are a perfect place to celebrate this milestone for the Growing Suburbs Fund. Each of the 200 completed projects is helping to build cohesive and thriving communities and improve the quality of life for everyone who lives there.”
Melissa Horne - Minister for Local Government
New sporting facilities in Gladstone Park fit for all.
With the weather warming up, the Gladstone Park community can get out and enjoy more sport, now that the Gladstone Park Pavilion Redevelopment is complete.
Member for Sunbury, Josh Bull represented Minister for Local Government, Melissa Horne on Tuesday 18th October 2022 to open the Gladstone Park Pavilion Redevelopment. The Gladstone Park Pavilion Redevelopment has been delivered by Hume City Council in partnership with the Victorian Government and received a $400,000 grant from the 2019-2020 Growing Suburbs Fund with Hume City Council contributing $1.55 million towards the project. The project, totalling $1.95 million provides new facilities at the pavilion which are gender inclusive and welcoming making it a venue the whole community can enjoy.
The project has delivered
- Two new changerooms with gender inclusive amenities
- Trainers / First Aid rooms in each changeroom
- Dual umpire’s room
- New Public Amenities
- New Kitchen/Canteen Servery (including storage room)
- New Bar Servery (including storage room)
- New 150m2 Social/Community room
- New Cleaners room
- New Office/Administration room
- Storage areas
- External covered viewing area
“I’m so proud of the investment the Victorian Government has made through the Growing Suburbs Fund to support our fast-growing communities.”
“Providing opportunities for sports and leisure that bring the community together and that are accessible to all are essential to keeping us fit and well, mentally and physically.”
Melissa Horne - Minister for Local Government
“It’s great to see the Victorian Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund is delivering projects like the Gladstone Park Pavilion and providing vital facilities for our growing communities.”
“This fantastic sport and recreation facility will make a huge difference to the community by providing greater opportunities for everyone to participate in healthy outdoor activities.”
Josh Bull - Member for Sunbury
A new home for softball in Craigieburn.
On Friday 16th September 2022, the Member for Yuroke, Ros Spence represented Minister for Local Government, Melissa Horne to open the Craigieburn Softball Centre at Aitken Hill Recreation Reserve. With a total project cost of $9.4 million dollars, the project received $1.5 million from the Victorian Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund, $7.2 million from Hume City Council and $700,000 from Stockland Corporation.
The construction of the Craigieburn Softball Centre has provided the Craigieburn community with a new and diverse open space which will support active and passive recreation activities to improve the health and wellbeing of the community while helping to grow and support the development of young softballers in the community and beyond.
The project has delivered:
- two new softball fields with lighting
- multi-purpose sports ground
- pavilion
- outdoor gym hub
- walking paths
- landscaping.
“The new Aitken Hill Recreation Reserve is a great investment in the growing community of Craigieburn - for today and for future generations.’’
‘’The Reserve is a critical investment for our region. Every week thousands of residents will now have the opportunity to enjoy these great facilities and connect with each other.”
Melissa Hoare - Minister for Local Government
“This project is a great example of how we’re making sport and active recreation more accessible. Through the Growing Suburbs Fund, communities like Craigieburn have the facilities they need so more locals can play the sports they love.”
“Community sport is all about bringing people together. With this investment, we’ll make communities stronger than ever through sport.”
Ros Spence - Member for Yuroke
Calling all future ninja warriors in Sunbury.
Member for Sunbury, Josh Bull represented the Minister for Local Government, Melissa Horne on Friday 9th September 2022 to open the Forrest Street Play-space Upgrade project. The renewed reserve is now more accessible and inclusive and caters for a broader cross-section of the community, featuring an upgraded play area, a ninja course, fitness area, multi-purpose court and landscaping – making it the ultimate space for kids of all ages.
The Victorian Government provided $260,000 through the 2021-22 Growing Suburbs Fund to the upgrade, with $460,000 provided by delivery partner Hume City Council to complete the project. The upgrades now provide a place for children to play and be active and better meet the needs of the growing Sunbury community.
The project has delivered
- An upgraded play-space area
- Park seating
- New pathways
- Landscaping
- Fitness exercise area
- Ninja course
- Basketball/ Multi half court
“The Growing Suburbs Fund supports local community connections and services, helping families and communities thrive. Local investments like the Forrest Street Play-space are supporting the needs of the Sunbury community.”
Melissa Horne - Minister for Local Government
“Sunbury’s new play-space is giving the community something that they have really needed, an upgraded new area that the whole family can enjoy.”
Josh Bull - Member for Sunbury
A modernised Diamond Valley Sport and Fitness Centre can now better support the local community.
On Friday 22nd July 2022, Vicki Ward MP Member of Eltham, representing the Hon. Ros Spence MP, Minister for Sport joined, Colin Brooks MP, Member for Bundoora and Danielle Green MP, Member for Yan Yean to officially open the redeveloped Diamond Valley Sport and Fitness Centre.
The $17.5 million redevelopment was supported by $2.67 million from the Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund, $8 million from the Local Sports Grants Initative program and $6.84 million from Nillumbik Shire Council.
This project has redeveloped the existing Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre into a modern, fully accessible facility. The major upgrade included:
- New forecourt and entrance;
- New change facilities and amenities;
- New cafe
- installation of a lift;
- New basketball administration/social space;
- New referee room and additional storage;
- New social space/meeting areas;
- New first aid facilities;
- one new show court which will be multi-lined for competition standard basketball and netball and include provide seating for 500 spectators;
- three new courts which will be multi-lined for competition standard basketball, netball, volleyball and badminton; and
- The existing change rooms and amenities will also be upgraded.
“The Victorian Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund provides crucial community infrastructure and is delivering results for local communities. The Victorian Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund is helping fast growing communities like Greensborough get the vital community facilities they need so they can continue to thrive as the population increases.”
Melissa Horne - Minister for Local Government
The community of Kalkallo now has its first permanent recreation facility.
Member for Yuroke, Ros Spence represented Minister for Local Government Shaun Leane on Saturday 25th June 2022 to open the Kalkallo Recreation Reserve Pavilion (Cloverton), which is also the new home to growing community sporting teams, the Hume Bombers Football Club and the Donnybrook Cricket Club. The Kalkallo Recreation Reserve Pavilion (previously known as the Cloverton Recreation Reserve Pavilion) has been delivered by Hume City Council in partnership with the Victorian Government and the Stockland Corporation. Hume City Council received a $1,495,000 grant from the 2019-2020 Growing Suburbs Fund allocation with Hume City Council contributing the matching funds. The project, totalling $2,990,000 provides a new multipurpose pavilion and associated works for the growing Kalkallo community and will provide the local community with greater opportunities to participate in sport and recreation and a space to come together.
The project has delivered
- a large social room,
- two sets of change rooms including gender inclusive change areas,
- two umpires’ rooms,
- a kitchen area,
- office space and storage rooms
- landscaping and a viewing area.
“Sport and recreation are so important for wellbeing and I’m proud of the addition of this new facility for the growing community in Kalkallo.”
“We’re committed to supporting fast growing communities like Kalkallo to ensure they have the community facilities they need.”
Shaun Leane - Minister for Local Government
“It’s great to see the Victorian Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund is delivering projects like the Kalkallo Recreation Reserve Pavilion and providing vital services to growing communities.”
“This fantastic new sport and recreation facility will make a huge difference to the community by providing greater opportunities for healthy outdoor activities.”
Ros Spence - Member for Yuroke