This morning, Interface Councils kick off their annual Interface Week with the release of the much-anticipated Interface Councils Liveability Policy that lays a path forward to make Melbourne’s outer suburbs as liveable as the rest of Melbourne.
The cornerstone message in the Interface Councils Liveability Policy that will be delivered to Members of Parliament this week, is that there are better ways to manage growth through innovative solutions and partnerships.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be able to start Interface Week with a bang this year,” said Cr. Kris Pavlidis, Mayor of City of Whittlesea.
“To get the Liveability Policy into the hands of parliamentarians is a big step forward and the beginning of a larger discussion on how state and local governments work together to deliver essential services and infrastructure to communities across the Interface Councils Region (ICR).”
The Liveability Policy focuses specifically on:
Creating vibrant open spaces and places,
housing that works,
moving people,
healthy communities; and
access to good local jobs.
“This week we are here to tell our state counterparts that we want to work with you. We want to make sure the work that needs to get done, gets done. We all have the same goal and that is to make sure our suburbs have liveable communities and our residents have the great quality of life that they expect and deserve,” said Cr. Kris Pavlidis, Mayor of City of Whittlesea.
During the past four years, Interface Councils have welcomed nearly 200,000 residents to the region, which has resulted in Interface areas accounting for nearly half of Melbourne’s growth. As a result, the quickly expanding communities in the region are straining already stretched services and public infrastructure residents rely upon daily.
“Really what this is about is making sure residents have the same access to services and infrastructure that the rest of Melbourne has,” said Glen Patterson, Chief Executive Officer, Yarra Ranges.
“Right now, we are seeing new communities pop-up virtually overnight. This growth is putting intense pressure on our existing infrastructure and services are not meeting demand. If we want our communities to be truly liveable, we will need the State Government to continue to work with us to deliver adequate public transport, community hubs, schools and essential health services.”
Throughout Interface Week 2018, Interface Councils are holding more than 25 meetings with Ministers and Shadow Ministers. These meetings will focus on how local and State Government can work together to better manage growth and address priority issues such as services, infrastructure, education, roads, public transport and economic development.
Each year, Interface Councils undertakes an intensive week of meetings to engage elected officials on a range of priorities for Melbourne’s outer suburbs, bringing attention to the pressing issues that impact the communities living there on a day-to-day basis.
Interface Councils is a group of ten municipalities that form a ring around metropolitan Melbourne, comprising Cardinia Shire Council, City of Casey, Hume City Council, Melton City Council, Mitchell Shire Council, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Nillumbik Shire Council, City of Whittlesea, Wyndham City Council and Yarra Ranges Shire Council. Together, the group works to enhance the liveability of the region for its residents. For more information visit www.interfacecouncils.com.au.
