In an aim to gain State support for the Flemington Housing Estate Precinct, we’re considering working with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to jointly plan the future of the precinct.

We are committed to protecting and improving Debneys Park and ensuring no net loss of open space in the precinct, developing a modern and integrated community hub for the entire Flemington community, and strongly advocating for good outcomes for housing estate residents and the local Flemington community. Cr Narelle Sharpe

Moonee Valley Mayor Cr Narelle Sharpe said the decision made at last night’s Council meeting was in response to DHHS contacting us and putting forward this opportunity.

“Our decision will allow officers to engage in initial discussion with DHHS to see if there is a possibility of working together on an integrated master planning process for the entire precinct,” Cr Sharpe said.

“We previously explored this option with DHHS in 2016, but uncertainty around the timing of their public housing renewal project resulted in those discussions not progressing and Council moving forward alone with the Flemington Community Hub and Debneys Park project.”

Cr Sharpe said working with DHHS on this project may provide several opportunities including exploring alternative locations for the new community hub, and potentially gaining State support and better coordinated outcomes for the whole precinct.

“These initial discussions don’t lock us into anything, but they are a good starting point to see what might be possible through a joint master planning approach,” she said.

“We acknowledge that this project continues to be complex and requires more thinking and planning in how it should move forward in light of budget changes, community feedback and now new information from DHHS.

“But no matter what happens, we are committed to protecting and improving Debneys Park and ensuring no net loss of open space in the precinct, developing a modern and integrated community hub for the entire Flemington community, and strongly advocating for good outcomes for housing estate residents and the local Flemington community.”