Delivering critical community infrastructure for Melbourne’s fast-growing outer suburbs.
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The 2024-2025 Growing Suburbs Fund grant recipients have been announced.
Overview
The Growing Suburbs Fund (GSF) is a response to the needs of growing communities through fast-tracking high priority local infrastructure projects. These projects contribute to more resilient and liveable communities and improve councils’ capacity to respond to changing community needs and demands.
Growing Suburbs Fund 2024-2025
The 2024-2025 Victorian Government budget allocated $5 million to the Growing Suburbs Fund to help plan and build the facilities needed to support healthy and liveable communities in our fastest growing suburbs.
In this round of funding, the 7 growth councils on the fringes of metropolitan Melbourne were eligible to apply:
Cardinia Shire Council
Casey City Council
Hume City Council
Melton City Council
Mitchell Shire Council
Whittlesea City Council
Wyndham City Council
In 2024-2025, project planning grants were introduced to complement the long-standing infrastructure grants. The purpose of project planning grants is to assist councils in supporting project readiness and/or to develop a pipeline of projects.
Infrastructure grants: Applicants could apply for up to $1 million for each project.
Project planning grants: Applicants could apply for up to $150,000 for each project.
Cash contribution: Applicants were required to make cash contributions of at least a 1:1 ratio of grant funding.
Funding was awarded on a competitive basis.
Eligible activities and projects
The 2024-25 Growing Suburbs Fund supported projects that directly benefit communities and surrounding catchment areas across the following infrastructure categories:
multi-purpose or integrated community facilities (these projects will be prioritised for funding across both grants)
placemaking, civic amenity, and open spaces
purpose-built facilities that respond to the needs of First Nations communities
early education, libraries, learning and training facilities that have dedicated community spaces and facilitate multiuse purposes
sport, recreation, and leisure facilities that have dedicated community space and support multiuse purposes.
For project planning grants, the GSF supported:
single site facility planning for the above infrastructure categories
development of a pipeline of projects across multiple sites for the above infrastructure categories.
Objectives of the Growing Suburbs Fund
The GSF was introduced to support growing communities by speeding up infrastructure projects that will enhance liveability and help meet the changing needs of these communities.
Grants were targeted towards high priority community infrastructure and planning projects that:
increase social and economic participation in Melbourne’s fast growing outer suburbs
support the health and wellbeing needs of people in fast growing outer suburbs
increase local economic activity
support councils in their ability to respond to changing community needs and demands
plan for and/or deliver integrated or multi-purpose community infrastructure
advance inclusive and accessible development by ensuring investments are universally designed, environmentally sustainable and strategically planned
create a safe and engaging environment for disadvantaged community members
contribute to improved gender equality in line with the Gender Equality Act 2020
progress key priorities of the Victorian Closing the Gap implementation plan by delivering important cultural community infrastructure, and further enhancing the partnership between government sectors, First Nations community-controlled organisations, and the wider community.
2024-2025 Successful recipients and projects
Project name: Courtenay Ave and Hoystead Ave Playground Redevelopment.
Location: Cranbourne North.
Description: The project will revitalise an ageing play space and reserve by upgrading its infrastructure, paths and overall design. It will deliver new, youth focussed facilities that foster social inclusion and improve play opportunities. The upgrades will also make better use of existing passive open space, ensuring it better serves the needs of the community.
Project name: Hallam Community Learning Centre Expansion.
Location: Hallam.
Description: The project will expand the kitchen, small meeting room and address minor DDA non compliances to improve the opportunity for social connection amongst community. This will ensure the needs of current and future user groups are met and support the delivery of multicultural services for the Hallam community.
Project name: Doveton Neighbourhood Learning Centre Renewal.
Location: Doveton.
Description: The project will involve works to address DDA noncompliance issues internally and externally, renewing the ceiling for improved acoustic and thermal performance, renewing flooring, upgrading lighting and ventilation, removal of gas kitchen appliances and general renewal through repainting and new external fencing/signage.
Project name: Craigieburn Sports Stadium and Craigieburn Gardens Masterplan.
Location: Craigieburn.
Description: This project will involve the preparation of a masterplan that integrates services for balanced land use, enhanced connectivity, and heritage preservation. It delivers safe, accessible spaces managing pedestrians and vehicles. The plan comprises a stadium (multipurpose courts, studios, offices, community rooms) and gardens (dog park, Playspace, fitness equipment, outdoor courts, BMX track, and youth centre).
Project name: Beveridge Central Community active open space.
Location: Beveridge.
Description: The project seeks to deliver a versatile range of multiuse community spaces with a focus on active and passive open space infrastructure for the Beveridge community. This project will focus on constructing a community park, which will include a range of landscaped open spaces, play equipment, shelters, pathways, formal and informal social spaces and most importantly a network of paths which will dramatically increase opportunities for how the community can connect and move about the area.
Project name: Wallan East (Newbridge) Active Open Space Facility.
Location: Wallan East.
Description: The project will involve pre planning to deliver vital multi-use active open space infrastructure to the community of Newbridge, within Wallan East. This project will provide Council with well-developed and considered information to enable the delivery of the pipeline of community infrastructure.
Project name: Olivine Recreation Reserve Skate Park Development.
Location: Donnybrook.
Description: The project will involve the construction of Koukoura Park and provide a much-needed public open space for the new community to engage in informal recreation and cultivate social connections. The new park will include construction of a multiuse court, wheeled sports and boulder climbing, seating, shelters, local play space and tree planting.
Project name: Derby Meadows Preschool and Boori Childrens Centre Redevelopment.
Location: Epping.
Description: The project will create a modern, purpose-built integrated multi-purpose facility designed to improve access and delivery of early childhood services for children and families both locally and within the municipality.
Project name: Construction of Koukoura Park.
Location: Wollert.
Description: The project will involve the construction of Koukoura Park and provide a much-needed public open space for the new community to engage in informal recreation and cultivate social connections. The new park will include construction of a multiuse court, wheeled sports and boulder climbing, seating, shelters, local play space and tree planting.
Project name: Werribee South Beach and Bay Trail Project.
Location: Werribee South.
Description: This project involves improvements to active travel opportunities, community recreation facilities and social spaces within the coastal landscape at Werribee South Beach. Works will include a shared user path to improve walking and cycling access to Wyndham Harbour via the Wyndham Bay Trail, a wetland deck overlooking the Werribee River estuary and a new fishing platform.
2023-2024 Successful recipients and projects
Project name: Jim Parkes Reserve Upgrade.
Location: Beaconsfield.
Description: The Jim Parkes Reserve Upgrade will deliver a township level open space including a new play space, drainage, improved access, shelters, seating, BBQ facilities and landscaping.
Project name: Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House and Community Centre Renewal.
Location: Berwick.
Description: The project will support the delivery of intergenerational services for the Berwick South community. This will include improving the building's environmental performance, addressing fit-for-purpose and safety concerns, and renewing the large multi-purpose community room.
Project name: Balyang Way Reserve – Play Space Upgrade.
Location: Craigieburn.
Description: The upgrade to the play space at Balyang Way Reserve will include new play equipment for ages 1-12, custom play elements featuring the Golden Sun Moth, new drainage, edging and edging of play space, new furniture, removal of overgrown vegetation, new indigenous planting, improved access and visibility.
Project name: Clovelly Drive Reserve - Play Space Upgrade.
Location: Craigieburn.
Description: This project will replace and upgrade the play space within the existing landscaping at Clovelly Drive Reserve and improve path connections, new fencing, tree planting and new park furniture. New equipment to include multiple swing option, combination unit, rocker, gear panel and spinner.
Project name: Highgate Recreation Reserve - Play Space Upgrade.
Location: Craigieburn.
Description: This project will replace existing playground within the existing landscaping. Improvements will also be made to the surrounding amenity, including shelter, picnic tables, seats, drinking fountain and rubbish bin.
Project name: Rockbank North Active Open Space Precinct.
Location: Aintree.
Description: This project will deliver a district level active open space precinct for Aintree’s fast-growing community. The project includes an all-abilities play space, public toilets, off-lead dog park, passive and active recreation spaces, fitness trail, skate park, soccer fields, a shared path network and a community sports pavilion.
Project name: Wallara Waters Community Centre.
Location: Wallara Waters.
Description: The Wallara Waters Community Centre project will deliver a community hub, offering spaces for early education and care, maternal and child health, allied health and family support, associated programming rooms, and multipurpose community meeting/activity rooms to support families and communities within Wallan East’s rapidly developing new estates.
Description: This project will upgrade and revitalise a dated pavilion, improving access, usage and multi-purpose functionality for community groups in Dromana.
Project name: Atrium Reserve at Quarry Hills Regional Parklands.
Location: South Morang.
Description: The Atrium Reserve project will deliver a gateway into the broader Quarry Hills Regional Parklands including large scale shelters for community gatherings, public furniture, signage, car parking, landscaping and scenic viewing nodes. The project will provide community access to passive and active recreation opportunities in a quality landscape surround.
Project name: Regent Street Reserve at Quarry Hills Regional Parklands.
Location: Mernda.
Description: The Regent Street Reserve project aims to establish a northern entrance to the Quarry Hills Regional Parklands, featuring shelters for communal events, public amenities, signs, parking, greenery, and scenic viewpoints. It will provide the community access to diverse recreational activities within a picturesque environment.
Project name: West Wollert Community Centre.
Location: Wollert.
Description: The West Wollert Community Centre project will deliver three kindergarten rooms, two Maternal and Child Health consultation suites and program room, community hall and kitchen, community lounge featuring a library service, a multipurpose activity space, a Changing Places toilet facility and accessible amenities.
Project name: Manor Lakes North Active Open Space Community Spaces.
Location: Manor Lakes North.
Description: This project is a part of the Manor Lakes North endorsed Master Plan Implementation and will create a vibrant space for the growing Manor Lakes community. This project includes a play space, BBQs, shelter and seating infrastructure.
Project name: Pear Street Reserve Public Amenities.
Location: Wyndham Vale.
Description: This project will construct a public toilet facility to raise the level of an existing local park to district level.
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Previous Growing Suburbs Fund successful recipients and projects
Prior to 2023, the Growing Suburbs Fund was administered by Local Government Victoria. Details of successful recipients and projects prior to 2023 can be found on the Local Government Victoria website.
