As we wind up the year I would like to take a moment to thank my community of Northcote for what we have achieved together. Since the state election we have hit the ground running, securing funding for every single election commitment and kicking off critical projects to make our community stronger. These are not abstract things but real initiatives that change people’s lives for the better. We opened a STEAM centre at Thornbury High and a new learning centre at Preston South Primary, turned the sod at Westgarth Primary and drew plans for Thornbury Primary – modern education facilities to see us into the future.
We topped out building 99 new safe and secure homes on Oakover Road for people who need them most and started the critical planning to make our tramlines more accessible. Our waterways are getting more protection with a new Green Links fund, and we have kicked off the container deposit scheme to divert more waste from landfill. Our early parenting centre and our mental health and wellbeing local are funded and in the works. Free TAFE and nursing courses are generating pathways for locals to get the skills they need for the jobs they want. Our iconic Eighty-Six music festival went off like a firecracker through our suburbs, delivering much-needed economic uplift for our traders, live music and creative industry workers.
As Parliamentary Secretary for Women’s Health I have been proud to propel our landmark reforms, and my electorate office has helped countless residents with everything from housing to health care to protecting local kinders from council cuts. A big thankyou to Sammi, Johanna, Campbell and Marion. There is more to do and there are challenges ahead, but my commitment to Northcote is unwavering and I cannot wait for the next chapter.
