Positives drawn from Broadmeadows summit

Broadmeadows will finally get its northern city gateway – a tree boulevard and improved road interchanges along its Pascoe Vale Road town entrance.

The oft-neglected suburb has been granted $1.3 million by the state government to beautify Pascoe Vale Road and complete Meadowlink Park.

Treasurer Tim Pallas announced the makeover at the recent Broadmeadows Economic and Cultural Development Summit, organised by Broadmeadows MP Frank McGuire to create a blue- print for new industries and jobs as manufacturing in Melbourne’s north winds down.

Mr Pallas said $1 million would create a grand boulevard on Pascoe Vale Road, with another $150,000 set aside to redesign the loop road that skirts the old Broadmeadows town hall.

The Treasurer said another $150,000 would finish the Meadowlink Park project – a joint council, state government and Vic Roads’ venture connecting Moonee Ponds and Merlynston creeks via a 3.2-kilometre shared pedestrian and bike path along an old railway corridor.

Mr McGuire said business leaders and government needed to address alarming jobless figures and the ongoing retrenchment of low-skilled workers.

He stressed the need for rebuilding the area’s ageing 1950s public housing stock.

“The aim is to establish a co-ordinated strategy to help job creation, lifelong learning and crime prevention.”

More than 150 people attended the summit, including the region’s major employers, CSL Ltd, Melbourne Airport and Ford.