The City of Melbourne’s largest ever funding boost, a $14.43 million community infrastructure investment program, was unveiled as part of Council’s draft 2010/11 budget.

A $5 million redevelopment of the former JH Boyd Girls’ High School site to include a new community facility and library, $3.14 million to transform the Queen Street area of Queen Victoria Market area into a pedestrian precinct and $2.5 million to commence Docklands’ first public library are key
planks of the program.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said nearly $15 million would be spent adding to, upgrading and strengthening Melbourne’s community infrastructure to underpin the continued growth of the city.

“Melbourne strength lies within its people and in our healthy, connected and thriving communities,” the Lord Mayor said.

“We want strategic and sustained investment in a community infrastructure program to deliver the best for our community into the future.

“Nearly $15 million from the draft 2010/11 budget will be dedicated to essential community services for the vitality of our city.”

Highlights of Council’s community infrastructure program include:
• $5 million for the first phase of the redevelopment of the former JH Boyd Girls’ High School in Southbank – the heritage school building will be refurbished to create new community facilities including a library, maternal and child health and family services, multi-purpose meeting rooms and artists’ studio spaces. A quarter-acre urban park will also be created on City Road in the heart of Southbank.

• $3.14 million committed to the revamp and future strategic development of Victoria’s premier open-air market, the Queen Victoria Market. This will include scoping a pedestrianised Queen Street to establish the precinct as the ‘Federation Square’ of the north. Business and precinct plans will be completed, site options agreed with State Government and full community consultation and market research conducted.

• $2.5 million to commence Docklands’ first public library. The design, tendering and commencement of works on the ambitious project in partnership with VicUrban will involve the build-out works for both library and community services for residents.

• $1.035 million to bolster the City of Melbourne’s extensive range of library collections, resources, programs and facilities.

• $800,000 for the structural investigation, remedial work and restoration for Kensington Town Hall.

• $600,000 for fit-out works of the community hub on the ground floor of Drill Hall, North Melbourne. The site, worth $4.7 million, which the City of Melbourne sold to Housing Choices Australia for $10 (plus GST) in June 2009, will provide crucial community services in the heart of the city, set for completion by the end of 2011.

• $400,000 to complete the $5m upgrade of Melbourne’s iconic Tan Track which encircles the Royal Botanic Gardens and King’s Domain for the 300,000 runners who use it annually. The improvements include track widening, extra lighting making it safe for early morning and evening runners and improved drainage including stormwater harvesting.

• $400,000 worth of design and documentation to revitalise the recreational, social, cultural and educational facilities at Carlton Baths Recreation Centre and Carlton Family Resource Centre, Carlton.

• $350,000 to fit out Carlton Football Club’s Gardiner Stand undercroft in Prince’s Park, Parkville as a new depot, demolish the existing depot to free up 1,100 more square metres of parkland, and refurbish the existing heritage
depot building for future use.

• $200,000 for the upgrade of the pavilion at the Royal Park Golf
Course, Parkville including creating an alfresco dining area. Future Melbourne (People and Creative City) Committee Chair, Cr Jennifer Kanis, said the investment in Melbourne’s community infrastructure would help to fill service delivery gaps and provide support for a broader section of Melbourne’s community.

“Our goal is to provide relevant and affordable community services as widely as possible and fulfil a basic requirement for practicality, accessibility, safety and security,” Cr Kanis said.

“By investing in our community infrastructure, we can ensure our rich cultures are celebrated, embraced and connected. Melbourne’s famed liveability relies on our commitment to planning for and accommodating our city’s continued growth.”

Visit www.melbourne.vic.gov.au
for further details