Your wrap-up of Moonee Valley Council Meeting | 28 April, 2025

Missed this month’s Moonee Valley City Council Meeting?

Below is a summary of items debated and endorsed.

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.

Draft Budget unveiled

Local roads, libraries, footpaths and sportsgrounds will be among the winners of Moonee Valley City Council’s comprehensive capital works program, valued at $44.88 million.

The capital works program was unveiled as part of Council’s Draft Budget 2025/26.

Some of the major capital work projects include:

• renewing local roads and local area traffic management ($5.53 million)
• Ascot Vale Library redevelopment ($1.58 million)
• pedestrian and shared path improvements ($3.27 million)
• streetscape improvements ($1.63 million)
• Early Years Building Blocks program ($1.00 million)
• drainage improvement works ($2.60 million)
• sportsfield renewal and upgrade works ($3.68 million)
• sportsfield lighting program ($2.41 million)
• building renewals and upgrades ($1.79 million)

Council will also address climate emergency and sustainability through initiatives such as planning street and park trees, reducing its carbon emissions and energy costs, and upgrading its fleet to include electric/zero emissions vehicles.

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Lest we forget

Several Anzac Day events were acknowledged by Moonee Valley City Council as part of its Council meeting this week.

Councillors noted the number of people in attendance and the importance of continuing to commemorate and respect the fallen.

Thanks were expressed for the Airport West Football Club, the annual Essendon District Football League event in partnership with Aberfeldie Football Club, the Flemington-Kensington RSL and the East Keilor RSL.

VEC’s 2024 Election Report

A report from the Victorian Electoral Commission on the outcome of the general election for Moonee Valley City Council, which was held last October, found that 84.33% of local residents participated in the event.

Of those who voted, only 2.91% of ballot papers were regarded as informal which was lower than the State average of 3.47% and an improvement of the 2020 election (6% informal).

The October 2024 election was the first following the electoral structure review, which sees the municipality now divided into 9 single-councillor wards.

Two-year extension for Commonwealth Home Support Program grant

Council has accepted a grant agreement that will enable the continued delivery of home and community care services.

Under the agreement, services can be provided to support older people and people with disability can remain living in their home, in the community and maintain their wellbeing, independence and dignity.

The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) grant agreement with Council is now extended to 30 June 2027.

Temporary dog park trial concludes

A trial for a temporary fenced dog park in Bent Street Reserve will conclude at the end of May, finding it could be a possible site for a permanent facility.

A majority of residents engaged during the trial feedback supported the trial and the Bent Street Reserve becoming a permanent dog park, subject to community consultation and future budget process.

Council will also undertake feasibility study of two sites in the Moonee Ponds Activity Centre.

Hallkeeper Lane – permanent closure

After receiving supportive community and stakeholder feedback, Council will now progress plans to permanently close part of Hallkeeper Lane in Moonee Ponds to vehicular traffic.

The section to be closed, which is between Margaret Street and the Des Nunan Carpark, will make way for outdoor trading and public space activation.

Contract awarded

A five-year contract for Parking Management Services was awarded by Council to Orikan Australia Pty Ltd.

Under the contract, which is expected to amount to more than $3 million, the vendor will provide council officers with the appropriate tools (infrastructure, systems and tools) to manage parking for all road users, community and businesses.

Sale of property

A Council-owned property at 344 Ascot Vale Road, Moonee Ponds, will be put to sale after it was found to be surplus to needs.

The property, which is currently vacant, will require significant maintenance and was originally acquired to improve pedestrian access between Mount Alexander Road and Gladstone Street.

However, this outcome was achieved through another nearby property to create Junction Lane.

The proceeds of the sale will enable council to acquire another property elsewhere that meets Council’s strategic objectives.

A review of Council delegations

The Instrument of Delegation, which is a formal document to facilitate the duties and functions of a council, has been reviewed and updated to keep with current legislative requirements.

Under the update delegations, the Chief Executive Officer will now have authority to make decisions about financial contract expenditure up to $1 million, approve an insurance policy expenditure up to $1.2 million and in a rare or unforeseen situation (such as an emergency), is delegated authority to approve expenditure up to $1.5 million.

A benchmarking exercise found that this delegation is consistent with other metropolitan councils.

Delegations to Council staff were also reviewed and updated as needed to reflect the current position titles, legislation changes, and better align with the new organisational structure.