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Wyndham City Council and the Creation of Featherbrook Ward
SERVICES FOR A SAFER COMMUNITY
Creating a safer community involves a combination of proactive measures, community involvement, and collaboration with local authorities. Here are some strategies to consider:
Increase Police Presence and Patrols:
- Advocate for more frequent police patrols in high-risk areas.
- Encourage the establishment of community policing programs where officers engage directly with residents.
Neighborhood Watch Programs:
- Establish neighborhood watch groups to monitor and report suspicious activities.
- Improve the use of social media or community apps to stay connected and alert each other to potential issues.
Youth Engagement and Activities:
- Create programs and safe spaces for youth to keep them engaged and away from risky activities.
- Partner with schools and local organizations to provide mentorship and recreational activities..
Strengthen Local Businesses:
- Work with local businesses to implement safety measures, such as proper lighting and secure entrances.
- Create partnerships to ensure that businesses are contributing to a safe and welcoming environment.
Promote Inclusivity and Build Trust:
- Foster a culture of inclusivity where all community members feel valued and respected.
- Address social issues such as discrimination or economic disparity that can lead to tension and crime.
By combining these strategies, Point Cook can work towards becoming a safer, more secure environment for everyone
- Bemin Ward
- Brinbeal Ward
- Cheetham Ward
- Featherbrook Ward
- Grange Ward
- Heathdale Ward
- Iramoo Ward
- Quandong Ward
- Werribee Park Ward
- Williams Landing Ward
- Wimba Ward
A SNAP SHOT OF OUR SUBURB
Featherbrook - A New Ward
Featherbrook Ward: New ward name based on the name of a street, school, park, community centre, kindergarten and shopping centre in the ward. This name is registered in the VICNAMES register.
Point Cook is now home to over 66,781 people. Major development of Point Cook began in the late 1990s and the population has been growing rapidly since 2001, when the population was just 1,737. In 2016 Point Cook’s population was 49,929, and had risen to 60,105 by 2018.
With such growth, under the new Wyndham structure Point Cook will be covered by multiple local government wards, but is still solely contained within the boundaries of Wyndham City Council. Featherbrook Ward is made up entirely of Point Cook, with the surrounding Wards taking in some areas.
MORE SCHOOLS
Wyndham has a population of over 300,000 and is growing fast, even during the pandemic. More than half of Wyndham households are families with children. 58% of Wyndham residents are 35 years or below.
With over 100 babies born each week in Wyndham, we need 75 new classrooms each year to keep up with this growing demand.
Even with more schools being built in recent years, there is still an urgent shortage of schools in Wyndham. On average, children in Wyndham’s growth areas have around half the number of primary and secondary schools compared to Greater Melbourne.
I WILL STRONGLY ADVOCATE FOR MORE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN FEATHERBROOK
SERVICES FOR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
If elected, as a councillor of the feather brook ward, I will ensure there is
Increase Access to Mental Health Care:
We will develop and implement a strategy to partner with local health providers to open mental health clinics or incorporate mental health services into existing health centers.
Awareness and Education around metal health
We will launch scheduled campaigns to reduce the stigma around mental health and encourage people to seek help when needed.
Establish and fund Support Groups: Create peer support groups for different demographics, such as youth, adults, seniors, and specific conditions (e.g., anxiety, depression).
SUPPORT FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES
There are over 12,000 businesses operating in Wyndham!
As a small business owner myself, I understand the day to day problems and support needed for running a successful business, which eeds back into the economy
In addition to the ongoing support programs from the council, I will
- Advocate for local government policies that support small businesses,
- Identify and establish Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in featherbrook
Create and Support Local Business Associations that advocate for and support local entrepreneurs.
HOW TO VOTE
- voting in this election is by post only.
- The council will post ballot packs to all enrolled voters from Monday 7 October.
- Your ballot pack will contain:
- a ballot paper
- candidate statements
- a ballot paper envelope (for your vote to go in)
- a reply-paid envelope (for your ballot paper envelope to go in)
- a leaflet with instructions in other languages.
- Follow the instructions in your ballot pack to complete your vote.
- Make sure you post it or drop it off at the election office before 6 pm on Friday 25 October.
- Local mail collection times differ. Check the collection time on your post box to make sure your vote is in the mail on time.
Government in Australia
Effective governance requires a deep understanding of how local, state, and federal governments operate and interact. Electing someone who can navigate and collaborate across these levels is crucial for securing the resources, influencing policy, and driving the coordinated efforts to benefit our community. Raja Reddy has spent his career working with all levels of government and will ensure that Wyndham’s needs are heard and addressed, elect Raja Reddy for a stronger and more effective Wyndham City Council.
Local Government
Local government is the closest level of government to the community. It focuses on providing the services and infrastructure that directly impact our daily lives.
Key responsibilities include:
- Community Services: Libraries, community centers, and recreational facilities.
- Local Infrastructure: Maintenance of local roads, footpaths, parks, and public spaces.
- Economic Development: Supporting local business, industry, tourism, and regional development.
- Planning and Development: Local planning schemes, building regulations, and development approvals.
- Waste Management: Collection and disposal of household waste and recycling.
- Environmental Management: Conservation and protection of local natural resources.
- Public Health: Food safety inspections, public health programs, and emergency management.
State Government
State government is responsible for areas that require a broader oversight across the entire state.
Key roles include:
- Health Services: Hospitals, mental health services, and public health initiatives.
- Education: Public schools, TAFE institutions, and universities.
- Transport: Public transport networks, major roads, and highways.
- Justice and Policing: Law enforcement, courts, and correctional facilities.
- Environment and Resources: State parks, wildlife conservation, and natural resource management.
- Economic Development: Supporting industry, tourism, and regional development.
Federal Government
- The federal government handles issues that affect the entire nation and manages international relations.
- Primary responsibilities include:
- National Defence: The Australian Defence Force and national security.
- Foreign Affairs: Diplomatic relations, trade agreements, and international aid.
- Immigration and Citizenship: Border protection, visa processing, and citizenship applications.
- Social Services: Medicare, Centrelink benefits, and aged care support.
- Economic Policy: National budget, taxation, and financial regulation.
- Trade and Commerce: Regulation of interstate and international trade.
About Wyndham City Council
Located in Melbourne’s outer western suburbs, halfway between Melbourne and Geelong, Wyndham City Council covers an area of 542 km2. It is bordered to the south-west by Greater Geelong City Council, to the north-west by Moorabool Shire Council, to the north by Melton City and Brimbank City councils and to the east by Hobsons Bay City Council.
In the south the council area includes the localities of Werribee South and Cocoroc and to the east are Point Cook, Williams Landing, and part of Laverton. Along the northern council boundary are Laverton North, Truganina, Tarneit, and part of Mount Cottrell. The established areas of Werribee and Hoppers Crossing are in the centre of the council area. Wyndham Vale and Manor Lakes, and the less populated areas of Mambourin, Quandong, and parts of Eynesbury and Little River are in the west.
The Traditional Custodians of the land in Wyndham City Council are the Bunurong and Wadawurrung peoples.
Wyndham City Council contains major transport routes connecting Melbourne with Geelong and regional Victoria, including the Princes Freeway and two train lines. The Werribee train line consists of the suburban line that finishes at Werribee and the national freight line that traverses the council from east to west. The regional train line extends around the north and west of the established areas and connects into the Werribee train line south-west of Werribee. The Werribee River flows through the council area and there are a number of waterways and wetlands, including Skeleton Creek and Cheetham Wetlands.
Urban development is limited by the urban growth boundary around the north-western, western and southern parts of the council area. Land inside the boundary contains established residential areas and large areas of former agricultural land being subdivided for new residential development.
There is a significant industrial area in Laverton North and Truganina, and commercial areas include the Werribee employment precinct and a network of activity centres. Non-urban areas to the south and west of the council area contain small townships, agriculture, quarries, conservation areas, and over 27 km of coastline. Wyndham also includes Werribee Racecourse, Werribee Park, Werribee Open Range Zoo, the Western Treatment Plant, the Port Phillip Prison, and RAAF Bases Point Cook and Williams-Laverton.
RAAF Base Point Cook is the birthplace of the Australian Flying Corps and the Royal Australian Air Force. Today the base covers 341 ha and the RAAF Museum is currently the largest unit at Point Cook. RAAF Base Point Cook was included in the National Heritage List on 29 August 2007.
Wyndham City Council was home to 292,011 people in 2021, an increase of 130,436 over the previous decade. The median age in 2021 of 32 years was lower than for Greater Melbourne overall (37 years). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people comprised 0.9% of the population in 2021.
As one of Australia’s fastest growing local council areas, Wyndham’s population is forecast to grow at a rate of 3.4% per annum from 2022 and 2028. The population is expected to reach over 500,000 by 2041. Most growth will be in new residential areas north and west of established areas – Truganina, Tarneit, Wyndham Vale and Manor Lakes. Higher density housing will be built near activity centres and public transport, especially in Werribee and Hoppers Crossing.
In 2021, 48% of people were born overseas (from over 120 countries), including 17.3% from India. Nearly half of all residents (49.8%) spoke a language other than English at home. Nearly 40 religious communities were represented, including Catholicism (18.1%), Hinduism (14.5%), Islam (9.9%) and Sikhism (6.1%).
In 2021, 87.6% of all dwellings were separate houses, significantly higher than 65.1% for Greater Melbourne. A higher proportion of families also had a mortgage (46.1%) compared with 35.6% for Greater Melbourne overall. The median household weekly income was $2,203 in 2021, again higher than for Greater Melbourne ($1,901).
Wyndham has more than 32,000 local businesses that employ over 100,000 people. The labour force participation rate in 2021 for all residents aged 15 years and over was 66.9%, higher than the average for Greater Melbourne of 64.1%. The largest employers were transport, postal and warehousing businesses, employing 15.6% of workers in 2021-22.
*Images and information from the Victorian State Government via Local Government Victoria, for more information visit Click here