Elsie Lange
With Hume’s population expected to grow to about 397,000 over the next five to 20 years, Hume council has developed a draft community infrastructure plan (CIP) to cater for the diverse and changing needs of its residents.
At a meeting on Monday, November 14, council endorsed its plan to provide infrastructure for libraries, early years, youth and seniors or aged care services, creative arts and community meeting, gathering and activity spaces for community engagement.
The draft CIP proposes 52 changes to community facilities, spaces and places over the next 15 years.
Councillor Carly Moore described the document as a very important piece of work.
“It is really our plan for the delivery of infrastructure throughout the city, so it is a very important document and I strongly encourage all members of our community to have a good look at it and to provide their feedback,” she said.
“As much as we think we know what you’re thinking, we don’t actually know unless you tell us.”
Taking into consideration the varied geography and requirements of residents, the CIP splits the municipality into 13 precincts, and evaluates needs based on the different characteristics of each.
For example, Sunbury Central is identified as a precinct where there is “a significantly older population ageing in place with most of the housing targeted at families”.
“An additional community centre will be required to support the services required for the population growth in the identified Sunbury West [precinct structure plan] that will begin to be planned over the next 10 years,” the draft CIP says.
“There is a range of priorities for this precinct, from investing in ageing infrastructure which is becoming or is [no] longer fit for purpose, [to] enhancing facilities to expand existing services.
“[As well as] optimising facilities by introducing new services to support the varying needs and expectations of older people ageing in place, lone households, high numbers of disengaged youth and more culturally diverse households.”
Jacksons Creek ward councillor Jarrod Bell said the CIP was “unique” in its approach.
“Our officers have taken an innovative approach, they’ve taken a brave approach, they’ve taken an approach that looks at our entire organisation, our entire community as a whole and says where are the needs, what are the needs and how can we work together across the various branches of this council, across governments and across communities to deliver the facilities, spaces and places communities need where they need them,” he said.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our community to shape not only the provision of community infrastructure in their local communities today, but also across our entire city for the foreseeable future.”
