MY VISION

  Continue to implement the greening of Merri-bek

· Prioritise infrastructure spending within Merri-bek

· Provide high quality and reliable Council services

· Strengthen our planning regime

· Maintain a clean living environment through effective rubbish collection and street cleaning

· Providing additional resources for our youth  and building more Youth Centre to support our leaders of tomorrow

· Extend and upgrade public transport to the North and lobby State Government to extend tram line to Ring Road Fawkner

· Retention and upgrading of our local industry

· Cessation of sale public assets

· Open and accountable government

· Exploring further ways of seeking to engage our community to ensure our services adequately cater for our community into the future

· Protect all existing public open space and increase the amount of urban land devoted by open space 

· Develop a traffic management plan throughout the municipality area by area

· Continue our commitment to multiculturalism and opposition to racism

· Production of a Merri-bek-made products directory which will guide shoppers to locally made products and services and establish a link between all manufactures, trades, and consumers

· Working with the northern region economic development organisations to create a more vibrant economy that fosters business and invests in all jobs for the young unemployed

· Recognising that local government is the foundation of democracy in our community

· Merri-bek Council, as a local government and one of the largest employers in the area must set the example in its employment policy by promoting a rich and diverse workforce

· The people of Merri-bek must ensure that there is cooperation amongst each other and promote tolerance of diversity not just because it’s good, but because it means that every one will be better off and richer by living in harmony

· Merri-bek Council has the potential to become a model multicultural municipality with programmes and personnel that reflect the local population

· Enhancing child care services to help working parents

· Upgrade street lighting and children crossings, improving residents safety and security

· Lobby Vic Roads and the State Government for safer roads and pedestrian crossings

· Lobby State Government to increase pensioner rates rebate

· Accountability and transparency in Local Government is best achieved by not imposing a 

 ‘one size fits all’ approach

· Maintain a 5 year financial strategy which ensures the financial security of the municipality

· Maintain an ongoing internal, programme to ensure integrity of external council processes

· More beds for elderly, more nursing homes and accommodation for the homeless

· Lobby for improvements to local government schools

· More funds for increased public toilets and upgrades to existing units

· Lobby State Government to relocate some departments to Merri-bek

· Implement a climate action plan

· Maintaining and enhancing community services for people of all ages

· Support for local schools, kindergartens, RSL’s senior citizens, sporting and multicultural groups;

· Support for local community festivals, activities and events

· Shopping Centre improvements and local traders group support

· Development of local arts and cultural initiatives

· Continue to strive to control the number of gambling venues in Merri-bek

· Continue to advocate for public and social housing

· Continue to support the business incubator on Victoria Street, Brunswick.

· Continue to lobby Vic Roads and State Government not to extend the clearways 

on our major roads

· Undertake ongoing support to the Coburg Olympic Swimming Pool to remain open to the public and upgrade the facilities.