Your wrap-up of Moonee Valley City Council meeting | Tuesday 24 March, 2026 

Missed this month’s Moonee Valley City Council Meeting? 

Below is a summary of some of the items resolved. 

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.

Lighting the way forward

The installation of sports field lighting at JH Allan Reserve will go ahead as planned, with controls put in place to minimise potential impacts on nearby residents.  

Part of the Sports Field Lighting FY25/26 Program, the works were temporarily paused after last month’s Council meeting while councillors carried out additional consultation with residents and sportsground users. 

Council determined that the lights at JH Allan can only be used five days per week, follow-up meetings will occur with impacted residents six and 12 months after the installation of the lights. Residents can contact Council any time there are concerns. 

New sports site identified  

Council have earmarked a site on English St, in Essendon Fields, as the recommended location for an indoor sports facility of up to six courts.

While Council has committed $10 million to the development of this project, the project’s future depends on Council securing financial contributions from the state and federal governments.

The facility is the biggest advocacy ask for Council in the lead-up to November’s state election.

Phone tower talk 

Community members can soon have their say on three new proposed leases that would allow telecommunications companies to continue operating out of facilities on Moonee Valley land.  

The companies and sites subject to the proposed leases are: 

• Telstra at Walter Street Reserve in Ascot Vale
• Indara at Cross Keys Reserve and Walter Street Reserve 
• Optus at Walter Street Reserve. 

Council will also ask for community feedback on the installation of a new tower at Ormond Park, in Moonee Ponds. The proposed tower would improve phone reception in areas along the Craigieburn train line. 

The consultation will open to the public in early April via Council’s Your Say engagement platform.  

Respect for residents and staff 

A draft Customer Charter and Complaints Management Policy are now available for public consultation following Tuesday’s meeting of Council.  

The Draft Customer Charter outlines Council’s commitment to deliver the best experience in every interaction and sets out expectations about how staff are to be treated at work. 

The Draft Complaints Handling Policy, which applies to all complaints from members of the public about Council services, staff and decisions, is a requirement under the Local Government Act 2020. 

You have until 23 April to complete the online survey, or to send feedback via mail, email, phone and voice message. 

Making the Maribyrnong swimmable  

Fancy taking a dip in the Maribyrnong River in the future? 

Council this month signed on to the Swimmable Cities Charter, a commitment to improve conditions in metro waterways to make them safe places for members of the public to enjoy leisure and exercise activities. 

The initiative began in the lead up to the Paris Olympics, when the river Seine was cleaned up and beautified for public use. 

The cities of Melbourne and Yarra are already members of the cause.   

Contracts awarded 

A panel of nine contractors has been tapped to deliver ecological restoration and land management services across approximately 50 sites, including: grasslands, revegetation areas, bushland, and wetlands. 

The $3.16 million contract will run for an initial term of three years.  

A contract variation was also made to Council’s drainage maintenance and repair agreement.  

The variation was made in response to unanticipated needs, including: increased volume of proactive drainage asset repairs in preparation for Melbourne Water’s flood modelling; reactive drainage repairs caused by more frequent, intense rainfall events driven by climate change, and additional investment following the Maribyrnong River floods in October 2022.