By Danielle Kutchel
Casey Council says it has taken another step towards transparency with a review of the strategy for its growth areas.
At the council meeting on Tuesday 15 June, Casey’s administrators adopted the Casey Growth Areas Priority List and Implementation Strategy – June 2021.
The strategy saw a review undertaken of the priorities under each of the council’s 10 current contribution plans.
Projects have been categorised under these plans as either projects committed/underway; high priority delivery; or low priority delivery.
A number of high priority projects have been listed across the municipality, including widening and upgrades of Ballarto Road; installing traffic lights at the intersection of Linsell and Casey Fields Boulevards; construction of multiple new sporting pavilions around Cranbourne North; the urbanisation of Evans Road; and construction of Grices Road east.
But it seems all eyes at council are on the boom town of Clyde.
The major growth area has by far the largest number of committed and high priority projects.
High priority projects around the suburb include construction of multiple intersections and sporting pavilions, construction of connector roads and provision of compensation for land.
Administrator Miguel Belmar, who moved the motion at the meeting, said the priority lists were “fundamentally important” for the planning of new suburbs and demonstrated the priorities for the council’s use of developer contribution funds into the future.
“It’s important the community understands that council is careful in the way it uses contribution funds and is focused on those areas that perhaps are growing faster than initially anticipated,” Mr Belmar said.
Administrator Cameron Boardman seconded the motion and said the review reflected “lots of strategy, lots of analysis” of council funding and income over a ten year period, to ensure the projects would be able to be funded.
He said the review would be of “significant benefit to the community”, offering transparency to the community and developers on how funds would be spent.
Casey Council’s 10 current active contribution plans are:
Cranbourne East DCP
Cranbourne North DCP
Cranbourne West DCP and Cranbourne West Local Roads (Subset of Cranbourne West DCP)
Clyde North DCP
Botanic Ridge DCP
Clyde DCP
Berwick Waterways DCP
Brompton Lodge DCP
Cardinia Creek South ICP
Minta Farm ICP
