~ =~~ =~·. ;.;~. AN ~NeAL REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT AUGUST 1987 -AUGUST 1988 CITY OF BERWICK SEPTEMBER 1988 CONTENTS -If PAGE SUMMARY -- 1 PREAMBLE 2 DEVELOPMENTS ON ACTION PREVIOUSLY PROPOSED BY THE CITY OF BERWICK 3 POPULATION GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF BERWICK - AN UPDATE 7 ACTIVITIES OF THE CITY OF BERWICK IN 1987/88 . 14 PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE - THE CURRENT SITUATION 16 FOUNTAIN GATE/NARRE WARREN DISTRICT CENTRE 21 ACCESSIBILITY AND TRANSPORT ISSUES IN THE CITY OF BERWICK 23 STRATEGIC PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF BERWICK 30 APPENDICES 32 1. ·SUBMISSION TO THE MINISTER FOR PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT ON FOUNTAIN GATE/NARRE WARREN DISTRICT CENTRE 2. SUBMISSION TO THE MINISTER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES ON CITY OF BERWICK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME ! 711.4099451 The City ofBerwick and the . BER:C State Government metropolitan policy : an annual review and assessment, August ) . I ( SUMMARY The present submission constitutes the third response from the City of Berwick to the State Government Metropolitan Policy during the past twelve months. Accordingly this submission reviews developments during 1987/88 and highlights necessary future action for dealing with continued high levels of population growth and development in the Berwick-Pakenham growth corridor. - Much has been achieved in meeting local community needs for the provisiQn of essential infrastructure during the past year, and the central planning structures necessary for the implementation of the Metropolitan Policy are now in place. While additional/improved public educational, health, recreational, transport and welfare services and facilities have been provided or given funding approval there can be, in Council's opinion, no justification for complacency during the next twelve months as the urbanisation and general development rates of the municipality accelerate. The current priorities for service/facility provision in the City of Berwick requiring State Government action and resources as outlined in this submission may be summarised as follows: * declaration of Fountain Gate/Narre Warren as a district centre to ensure the planned development of this vitally important, strategic precinct * construction of the Hallam-Narre Warren Bypass at the earliest opportunity to overcome the worsening Princes Highway bottleneck * land acquisition at the Narre Warren railway station to accommodate an adequate modal interchange for the City Centre and further upgrading of railway and bus services and associated infrastructure * funding approval for the employment of municipally based urban planning and community development personnel to assist existing staff in developing and implementing local strategies to meet the special needs of the municipality's present and future residents * improvements to the provision of local police and emergency services by the early construction of the new Berwick police station, land acquisition for the proposed Endeavour Hills police station and site investigation and reservation for future ambulance station * provision of high priority health and welfare facilities including the Endeavour Hills Community Health Centre, Narre Warren Senior Citizens Centre and Brentwood Maternal and Child Health/Pre School Centre. The public outlays necessary for the further development of the City's physical, social and economic infrastructure are substantial but it is stressed that a very high priority must be given to the allocation of State Government financial and other resources for the further development of infrastructure in the City of Berwick as the principal growth municipality in the Melbourne metropolitan area and indeed Victoria. - 1 - PREAMBLE Following the release of the State Government Metropolitan Policy in August 1987, Council lbdged two submissions dealing ~ith the implications of such policy for the City of Berwick with various relevant departments and instrumentalities. Council's initial response (November 1987) emphasised that the anticipated unprecedented levels of population growth arid development in the City would necessitate the co-ordinated planning and provision of physical, social and economic infrastructure to ensure that the diverse needs of the municipality's ratepayers and residents are met-·in an appropriate and .. timely manner. Council's further response (May 1988) stressed that the establishment by the State Government of appropriate and adequate planning and resource allocation structures· in liaison with Council and the implementation of efficient ind effective decision making and review processes would be of absolutely critical importance. The present submission presents a review and assessment of the Metropolitan Policy during the past year from Council's viewpoint as the most rapidly developing municipality in the Melbourne Metropolitan area. The achievements during this period are described and the issues which require further action are identified in this review. Reference is made to various matters raised in the Council's previous responses to the Metropolitan Policy and to ensuing developments in this regard. Council wishes to take this opportunity to reiterate the vitai importance rif partnership between the State Government and Local Government in planning and managing rapid change in the Berwick-Pakenham growth corridor and the willingness of the City of Berwick to co-operate with the varjous relevant State Government authorities in jointly ensuring that the diverse needs of the present and future residents in the municipality are met in an efficient and effective manner. -.. 2 - I DEVELOPMENTS ON ACTION PREVIOUSLY PROPOSED BY THE CITY OF BERWICK At the meeting in November 1987 to consider Council's initial response to the Metropolit~n Policy, a number of actions related to the planning,· provision and development of local infrastructure were proposed by the City of Berwick. This section of the present submission summarises recent developments on these matters. Action Proposed Recent Developments 1. The local State Parliamentarians CounciJ appreciates the to meet with Council on a six willingness of local State monthly basis to monitor and Parliamentarians to again meet review development and with Council. infrastructure provision in the municipality. 2. The Cabinet to hold a meeting in Local State Parliamentarians have the City of Berwick in the near advised that this proposal is not future. feasible. · 3. The Urban Infrastructure Local State Parliamentarians have Committee of Cabinet to meet on ·advised that this. proposal will be site in the major growth given further consideration. corridors. 4. The Members of the Metropolitan Council has continued to initiate Services Co-ordination System to contact with officers of the meet regularly with City of M.S.C.S. Unit. Following Council Berwick representatives to representations the City of facilitate local government Berwick is represented on the input particularly with respect Local Government Working Group . .to State Government infra- Council is also actively structure provision participating on the Berwick­ responsibilities. Pakenham Liaison Committee. 5. The Metropolitan Services The Minister for Planning and Co-ordination System to endorse Environment has advised that in principle Council's response Council's submissions have to the Metropolitan Policy as the provided a comprehensive picture framework for infrastructure of the concerns of the City of provision in the municipality. Berwick. .6. The infrastructure needs of the As above . City of Berwick to be brought to the attention of Cabinet. 7. The Cabinet through the Urban A number of specific requirements Infrastructure Committee of have been resolved or are Cabinet to give directions to presently being given further relevant departments to give consideration. funding priority for municipal services and facilities in the City of Berwick. - 3 - 8. The Cabinet through the Urban As above. Infrastructure Committee of Cabinet to ensure that funding priority is given for the provision of infrastructure in the City of Berwick which is. a State Government responsibility. 9. The Metropolitan Services Council is actively participating Co-ordination System to be in the Berwick-Pakenham Corridor allocated adequate resources Liaison Committee which provides and to be provided with the information and advice to the. _ opportunity to provide Ministry for Planning and information during the State Environment and which provides an budgetary process in liaison opportunity for local government with the City of Berwick. authorities in the area to collaborate on matters of mutual interest. 10. The Ministry for Planning and The Minister for Planning and Environment to provide funds Environment has ·advised that an for staffing to the City of allocation of $165,000 has been Berwick for forward planning made this financial year for activities.· special studies in the growth corridors including the preparation of structure plans and for flora/fauna, archaeological and heritage studies as required. No State Government funding has been allocated to the City of Berwick for the employment of additional planning personnel to assist with forward/strategic planning activities at the local level . 11. The State Government to purchase The need for a.24 hour police suitable land for future station in Endeavour Hills has facilities as a matter of been identified by the State urgency, particularly for the Government and the proposal to Endeavour Hills Police Station, establish such a facility