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WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2025
Local News More visitors for Melbourne
■ The City of Melbourne’s draft Budget 2025–26 will attract businesses, empower and celebrate our diverse multicultural communities, and deliver the blockbuster events for which Melbourne is famous, according to a Council statement. “The Budget provides $150,000 to explore ways to create pocket precincts in our neighbourhoods – which could include community markets, a seafood precinct and business grants for festive decorations,” said a Council representativer. “Council will also look to establish a Little India precinct in Docklands to drive business and activity in our waterfront neighbourhood. “Around 13 per cent of Docklands residents are of Indian descent, and across greater Melbourne, the Indian community is the second-largest diaspora. “In 2022, more international students from India studied in Victoria than from any other country. “This initiative builds on the recent establishment of Koreatown in the CBD – with grand traditional Korean totem poles, or jang seung, to be unveiled at the entrances to the precinct. “This Budget invests more than $26 million to deliver and support more than 80 events – from New Year’s Eve and Melbourne Fashion Week to Christmas celebrations, major sporting events and food festivals. This ensures there’s always an iconic Melbourne moment to enjoy, any time of year.”
COUNCIL SLAMS GOVT SUBURBAN LOOP PLANS
● Cr Georgina Oxley, Kingston Mayor
■ Kingston Council hasslammed the State Government’s concerns about the Victorian Government’s Suburban Rail Loop draft precinct plans. Cr Georgina Oxley, Kingston Mayor, said that the plans released by the Suburban Rail Loop Authority do not commit to essential services and infrastructure to match the scale of growth being proposed. “These draft precinct plans allow for significant development - at a level not seen in Kingston - but they do not provide a clear pathway for the delivery of vital services and infrastructure,” Cr Oxley said. “While our Housing Strategy did identify growth in these areas, it was not this significant. “We’re particularly concerned about the lack of funding commitments to plan and deliver new sporting facilities, schools/kindergartens, community facilities and bicycle paths that are essential before development comes.” Some of the key matters the Council is asking the State Government to address in the draft Cheltenham and Clayton precinct plans include: ■ Setting aside funding to deliver essential infrastructure to support liveable neighbourhoods including a community hub/library and schools/ kindergartens. ■ Identifying suitable land in Kingston’s Green Wedge to deliver sporting fields to meet significant additional demand
MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS IN PRAHRAN
● Rachel Westaway, Prahran MLA ■ Prahran MLA Rachel Westaway has asked where are the new bed-based rehabilitation services, the local mental health and wellbeing hubs, the regional mental health boards and the services for older Victorians that the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System recommended and the government promised to deliver. “The crisis in mental health is impacting the people of Prahran. We see people in dire need of assistance on our streets. They need care and treatment that is simply not available to them,” Ms Westaway said. “Left to wander the streets untreated, these people create a dangerous and unpleasant environment for local residents and traders. “Exasperated local shopkeepers and residents continue to tell me how they often end up clearing up the mess, including providing emergency food, clothing and money to these people, as well as literally cleaning up vomit and excrement. “With streets like Chapel St becoming the dumping ground for people with complex needs abandoned by this government, shoppers stay away and small businesses suffer. Many traders are taking the heartbreaking decision to close their businesses, which shatters their own dreams.”
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