Your wrap of Moonee Valley City Council meeting | Tuesday 25 November

Missed this month’s Moonee Valley City Council Meeting? 

Below is a summary of items debated. 

Remember: you can attend Council Meetings in-person or tune into the livestream via the MVCC website. The video recording remains available at the conclusion of the meeting, as do Agendas and Minutes from past meetings. 

Keeping our four-legged friends safe and happy 

Council voted to adopt the Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026-29. 

The plan was tabled following consideration of community feedback. It aims to improve community safety, minimise community tensions, reduce environmental impacts and improve animal welfare by responding to several issues. 

One of the issues being addressed is the need to increase the number (ideally all) of cats and dogs that are registered. Council will ensure the community is better educated about their pet ownership responsibilities through Council’s “Register to Reunite” program. 

Partnering with the community 

English conversation classes, indigenous gardens, a choral concert and solar panel installations are among the projects that will benefit from Moonee Valley City Council’s Biannual Grants program. 

A total of 27 applications have been allocated grants in this round of funding, totalling $211,374.53. Additionally, four Partnership Grant applications will share in more than $108,000 in funding. 

All applicants will be advised of the outcomes of the program.  Successful Biannual Grants and Partnership Grants for Round 1 2025/26 will be published on Council’s website. 

Telecommunication leases 

Council has five expired telecommunications leases across three sites – Cliff Whitworth Reserve, Walter Street Reserve and Cross Keys Reserve. 

The Council is seeking more information to better understand the terms of reference and the findings of the former Walter Street Telecommunications Working Group before making future decisions regarding these lease agreements. 

Right of way gone 

A revised Right of Way (ROW) in Bayview Terrace, Ascot Vale, will be abandoned following community consultation found there were no objections to the proposal.  

Council will now progress the statutory process to facilitate the reinstatement of road status. It will also proceed with the sale of part of a ROW in Park Street, Moonee Ponds, to improve off-street parking.  

Cleaning Services Contract 

A three-year cleaning contract for the Moonee Valley Civic Centre, Sam Merrifield Library, Clocktower Centre and Djerring Flemington Hub has been awarded to Storm International.  

The overall contract is valued at just slightly more than $1.5 million. 

Afton Street Pedestrian Bridge improvements 

The cable and anchor for Afton Street Pedestrian Bridge will be replaced following the awarding of the contract to Freyssinet Australia for a lump sum amount just under $1.4 million. 

Financial report card 

The Quarterly Finance Performance Report for the last three months, ending 30 September 2025, was tabled at the Council meeting held on Tuesday 25 November. It also noted the Council’s expenses for the same period. 

Council decided that a 2024/25 rates funding surplus of $14.1 million will be allocated as follows: 

• $2 million to a newly created Waste Charge Reserve for the new purple (glass) bin rollout 

• $1million to the IT Reserve 

• $850,000 to fund the implementation of changes identified in the Federal Government Audit Rectification and Aged Care Reform 

• $4 million to the newly created asset management reserve for climate change. 

• $6.2M to the Infrastructure Reserve. 

Additionally, carried over funds of $2.6 million will be used to reduce the borrowings from $35.2 million to $32.6 million. 

Capital Works Performance (CWP) Report 

The first quarter of 2025/26 proposed changes to the forecast expenditure, putting the capital works program at more than $48 million.  

The report highlighted the delivery of the CWP year to date, achieving $7,946,975 in expenditure. Projects include bridge, road and cycling / footpath works, building and facility improvements, drainage and IT projects.  

Keen readers will be pleased to note that about $106,000 was spent on new library and audio books. 

Planning Reform Bill feedback 

Moonee Valley City Council has called for changes to the Victorian Government’s proposed Planning Amendment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Bill 2025.  

It wants mechanisms to enable responsible authorities to secure contributions for social and affordable housing as well as ensure climate and environmental risk is mitigated. It also called for councils, referral authorities, stakeholders and the community to have an opportunity to participate meaningfully in the planning reform process. 

Finally, it will seek assurances that its development contributions are maintained and the funds used to support housing growth and local community benefit. 

Moonee Valley will join the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) and other local governments to call for parliamentary inquiry to examine these matters in detail, and will write to relevant Members of Parliament to express Council’s view.