Established in 1924 as the
proudly serving Brimbank and the North West
27 MAY, 2025
Recycling reaps rewards
Student recycling volunteers Ari, Ivy, Drake, Asha and Isabella from Braybrook College. (Damjan Janevski) 475239_03
Braybrook College has been named a finalist in 2025 ResourceSmart Schools Awards. A winner in two categories in 2023, Braybrook College has this year been nominated in the Container Deposit Scheme Vic (CDS Vic) Excellence Award for its recycling efforts. A green team of Braybrook College student volunteers have worked together to collect recycled containers in dedicated bright red recycling bins. After encountering some initial issues with contamination, the students were able to solve these problems through education and raising awareness. The school also worked together to implement one student’s proposal to replace the end-of-year skip with detailed waste-stream drop points. The recycling initiative has united the school community in reducing landfill waste, offering financial incentives and enjoyable activities. Regardless of whether they win or not, Braybrook College students plan to spend the rest of 2025 establishing more permanent collection systems and addressing all co-mingled waste items.
Budget windfall By Tara Murray Brimbank was one of the big winners in the state budget, with road and public transport funding flowing to the municipality. Twelve months after funding was scrapped from the state budget for upgrades on the Calder Freeway, the project is back on the cards. The state government announced the 2025-26 budget would include funding for a new interchange between the Calder Freeway and Calder Park Drive. The funding is part of $1.2 billion announced for 19 projects in partnership with the federal government to upgrade roads across growing suburbs in Victoria. Brimbank council said the state government would contribute $50 million,
with $250 million already committed by the federal government. Calder Action Group president Russell Mowatt said the group welcomed any investment in the Calder Freeway. “It’s important … that this project be implemented quickly as a policy that resonated with voters during the federal campaign,” he said. “We particularly appreciate the promised $300 million joint federal and state funding for the Calder Park Drive-Calder Freeway Interchange, a project that aligns with our organisation’s goals to improve local infrastructure and support community development.” The funding follows the state government announcing it would partner with the federal government to build a transport superhub in Sunshine.
The budget also contained money for a new bus connecting Cairnlea with Deer Park, while there will be upgrades and extensions for bus routes connecting Watergardens station with Caroline Springs town centre and Hillside, and a new bus route 464 to service growing suburbs of Hillside, Deanside, Fraser Rise and Aintree. Western Metropolitan MP David Ettershank welcomed the funding for more bus services but said the network changes were “piecemeal”. “While we welcome these additional services, the government must commit to a comprehensive reform of bus routes and frequencies across the western and north-western suburbs,” he said. “There are still major public transport
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blackholes across the region requiring extensive service improvements. “The only way to reduce congestion on roads in the west is to deliver quality public transport, and we know that bus services can be rolled out fast without the need to build new infrastructure.” There was also $8.9 million to upgrade shared user paths in Taylors Lakes, Sydenham and Hillside and $500,000 to install road safety signage at three locations along Taylors Road in Keilor Downs. Other projects to receive funding included the Vietnamese Museum Australia in Sunshine, toilet upgrades at Mackellar Primary School, planning for upgrades at St Albans Primary School and electronic scoreboards at Hillside Football Club and Western Suburbs Soccer club.
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KND Denture Clinic, 192 Main Road East, St Albans 9364 3677 Also at: Suite 8, 242 Caroline Springs Boulevard, Caroline Springs. 8361 9722
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