At each meeting of Hume City Council, members of the public can submit written questions for council staff to answer. Approved questions are answered by council staff who read carefully prepared statements. Here are the questions and answers for Monday 12 May 2025.
Q: I wanted the info from this year 2024/2025 for the percent of suburban money spent in each suburb so far this year please.
Response: Chief Financial Officer: The table below shows actual year-to-date capital expenditure by suburb as at 30 April 2025, for the 2024/25 Financial Year. It excludes operating expenditure associated with Council’s day-to-day service delivery.
Please note that nearly 50% of the total year-to-date capital spend relates to city-wide annual asset renewal programs, including works on roads, footpaths, drainage, and playspaces.
As a result, the actual investment benefiting each suburb is likely to be higher than the amounts listed, as city-wide programs are not fully allocated by location.
Please note that the expenditure shown reflects the current year to date spend of each project and will change as projects progress and more work is completed.
Q: I see on Facebook you’re also putting the next year’s budget up tonight. Tell me how much each suburb in Hume is getting in this budget in Hume from the suburban program and how much each suburb contributes to rates. I suspect when you add it all up Sunbury and the airport would be well worth half the rates.
Response: Chief Financial Officer: The capital expenditure contained in the table below is a snapshot in time and reflects the
nature of Council’s capital works program, which changes from year to year and often includes projects that benefit the whole city, not just one suburb.
When we develop Council’s Budget and Long-Term Financial Plan, funding isn’t divided by suburb or ward. Instead, we base our decisions on a range of important factors, such as:
- The priorities set out in the Council Plan
- What we’ve heard from the community
- Service needs and future planning
- The condition and safety of infrastructure
- Growth and development plans (e.g., developer contributions)
- Council’s adopted strategies, like the Sports and Recreation Strategy or Open Space Strategy
- Legal and compliance requirements
- The need to keep Council financially sustainable for the long term
This balanced and responsible approach means we invest where it’s needed most — based on evidence and community need—not just to make sure every suburb gets the same amount.
It helps us manage our resources wisely and avoid putting future budgets under strain. The capital works program isn’t designed to give each suburb an equal share, but rather to respond to local needs and priorities across the whole city. Many of our capital works – like road and footpath renewals or upgrades to open spaces – are city-wide programs that benefit all residents, not just one area.
In relation to Rates contribution per suburb, the information in the table below refers to general rates and does not include other charges such as waste charges or rates in lieu from the Melbourne Airport.
Q: As a daily traveller on Sunbury Road to the Airport, there has been a notable sighting of several kangaroos near the airport off ramp outside of the fencing containment to keep them in.
I have also recently witnessed kangaroos being hit on the way to work in the morning at 8:30am in this area including through Bulla which is most distressful.
I have seen up to 20 kangaroos running freely outside of the fence perimeter on my journey home at night on the airport onramp on Sunbury Road around 5pm.
The situation is getting worse and would like to ask Hume Council what can be done to contain the kangaroos and whether they can inspect the fencing for potential holes for them to escape.
It’s stressful driving in this area and feel it’s becoming a safety issue for drivers, and could cause a serious accident. It’s very sad to see kangaroos hit and dying on the roads and I’m sure the council can hopefully recognise the dangers and safety issues involved.
Thank you for your attention and consideration to address this issue.
Response: Director Customer & Strategy: Thank you for your question.
Wildlife roadstrike poses a significant concern in Victoria, with adverse effects on road safety, community wellbeing, animal welfare, and biodiversity.
In Hume City, an area experiencing urban expansion within critically endangered grassland ecosystems, incidents of wildlife roadstrike are rapidly increasing, particularly involving Eastern Grey Kangaroos.
Hume City Council faces several challenges in addressing this issue, including unclear land management responsibilities, rapid urbanisation, data fragmentation, and an over-reliance on unfunded volunteer networks.
This systemic issue necessitates a coordinated, well-resourced, state-led proactive approach.
Council will shortly consider this issue in its response the State enquiry into wildlife roadstrikes in Victoria.
Q: When will stages 2 & 3 be commenced and completed for Progress Reserve Park in Coolaroo as documented it stated it would have been completed in 2024?
Response: Director City Services & Living: Hume City Council acknowledges the delay in commencing stage 2 and 3 works at Progress Reserve, Coolaroo.
These stages of works are currently undergoing further planning and community consultation, to ensure they align with the outcomes of the Council’s Active Living Plan and the Hume Football (Soccer) Plans.
It is anticipated that Stages 2 and 3 works for Progress Reserve will commence in the 2026/27 financial year, with an estimated completion timeframe of approximately 24 months.
Q: Will there be works happening to improve Jacana Station?
Response: Director Customer & Strategy: Thank you for your question.
Public Transport services, infrastructure and facilities are the responsibility of the State Government. Any works that are scheduled to take place at Jacana Station will be planned and delivered by the Victorian Government.
Importantly, Council has a role in advocating on behalf of our residents. Advice has been received from the State Member for Broadmeadows, Kathleen Matthews-Ward that the 2022 state budget included over $1 million to improve access and safety at Jacana station, including CCTV, which has been completed.
Safety on Electric Street has also been improved through the installation of speed cushions and a zebra crossing which have helped slow traffic and improve visibility of pedestrians crossing the road.
Council continues to work closely with our local member to advocate for further improvements to safety, lighting and amenity. A representative from the office of the State Member for Broadmeadows will be in contact with you to provide more information on these advocacy efforts.
Q: As of 28 April 2025, the hot water in the shower facilities adjacent to the 25-meter swimming pool at Broadmeadows Leisure Centre is not functioning.
This has forced young children and other patrons to shower in cold water. Alarmingly, a similar issue occurred approximately six months ago and remained unresolved for several weeks.
Given this recurring problem, what immediate actions are being taken to restore hot water supply, and what long-term maintenance or infrastructure plans does the council have in place to prevent such issues from recurring?
Response: Director City Services & Living: On 24 April 2025, Council staff at the Broadmeadows Aquatic and Leisure Centre identified issues with the facility’s hot water system.
This was promptly referred to Council’s plumbing team for further assessment. Following inspection, it was confirmed that the existing hot water unit had failed, and was not able to be repaired.
As part of the upgrade, several enhancements were made to the associated pipework to improve water flow and overall system efficiency. Modifications are also being made to the pipework and the showers to help address these issues.
Whilst works are being finalised at the moment, and some intermittent issues continue, once improvements are finalised, we expected to see continued supply of hot water without interruption, and an improved patron shower experience at Broadmeadows Aquatic and Leisure Centre.
Q: With the growing number of patrons using the Broadmeadows Leisure Centre, the current number and layout of family shower and change rooms are proving to be inadequate, particularly during peak times. Families with young children and individuals with accessibility needs are being significantly impacted.
What plans does the council have to upgrade or expand these facilities to ensure they meet the needs of the community now and into the future?
Response: Director City Services & Living: Hume City Council is currently developing its Active Living Plan which seeks to provide a clear vision for Active Living in Hume for the next 20-25 years. This plan will establish guiding principles to support future decision making and ensure alignment with Council’s strategic position, priorities and community needs.
As part of this plan Council will consider both the participation and infrastructure needs across our growing Hume community. Any future development and amenity improvements at the Broadmeadows Aquatic and Leisure Centre will form part of this review.
We encourage all community members to have their say by completing the public surveys currently open as part of the community consultation. For more information, visit Council’s Participate Hume page at www.hume.vic.gov.au
Q: When is the council thinking of creating Indent parking in streets which are quite narrow like mine? (Mallacoota Crt Craigieburn)
Response: Director Infrastructure & Assets: The Hume City Parking on Narrow Streets Policy outlines Council’s approach to the management of parking on narrow streets.
There are hundreds of kilometres of streets in Hume that are not wide enough for cars to park on both sides. It is not feasible for Council to construct indented parking for all these streets.
Therefore, the Policy seeks to direct funding to streets with the highest demand for parking. Mallacoota Way has been assessed in line with the Policy.
Parking surveys in June 2024 identified that the street did not meet the warrants for indented parking bays due to the level of demand for on-street parking.
Q: Why are council rates going up when we haven’t seen any new services being provided in the last 13 years?
Response: Chief Financial Officer: Revenue raised through rates is used by Council to maintain local infrastructure and provide a range of services to our community.
Unfortunately, the cost of some of these services increase well beyond the rate cap, placing additional pressure on Council’s ability to maintain service levels and funding.
The net cost of services delivered to the community has significantly increased from $92.15 million in the 2012/13 Financial Year to $218.19 [million] proposed for 2025/26 to meet the growing demand for a variety of day-to-day services including:
- New three year old kindergarten service
- New mobile library services
- New events such as Hume Winter Lights and Sunbury 24 Festival
- New programs to reduce the amount of illegal dumping
- Maternal and child health consultations
- Leisure centres
- Library services
- Maintenance of parks, open spaces, and sporting grounds
- Preschools
- Delivery of meals for people in need
- Delivery of services for aged residents; and
- Immunisations
Since 2012/13, Council has invested over $900 million in capital works, delivering substantial improvements across the municipality. This includes major projects such as:
- Splash Aquatic Centre in Craigieburn
- Global Learning Centres in Sunbury and Craigieburn,
- the redevelopment of the Broadmeadows Town Hall,
- The delivery of the Sunbury multi deck Car Park
- upgrades to sporting grounds, pavilions, and community centres,
- the renewal of essential infrastructure including roads, footpaths, and open spaces
