It is great to see we have included the funding for the Active Transport Network project, the Ashcroft Ave duplication project, and the Hoppers Lane project. These 3 projects are important for improving Wyndham’s connectedness, road congestion, and road safety.

I note the local community had expressed concerns over the proposed Williams Landing Library and Community Centre not been included in this budget at this stage. And I understand this is due to the movements in the commercial property market due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senior council officers have confirmed that we are revisiting the Business Case and it could be reintroduced into the budget at a quarterly review.

I understand the importance of this project for the Williams Landing community, a community has no local access to some of the most basic public services and facilities for more than 10 years since the beginning of the development. This is simply not acceptable. (Not blaming the council officers in this term, I know we have been working hard on it) But I’d like to see the relevant works been done and the project to be reintroduced into the quarterly review as soon as possible.

I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight the importance of this project, I think this is one of the projects where the state government’s growing suburb fund should go to urgently.

Regarding council rates, I want to clarify that due to the way properties are valued and rates are distributed, the rates for 44% of residential properties will actually reduce compared to last year.