Speaker in Northcote we’ve hit the ground running with some major milestones kicking off the year.

On Sunday, High Street Northcote transformed into a pedestrian paradise for the Northcote Rise Festival – and although Taylor Swift couldn’t make it - over 40,000 others relished in our magnificent hospo, small business, live music & arts.

Huge thank you to all the fabulous traders and organisers who made this happen with a $450,000 grant from this Labor Government.

Last week, I also visited Faye Spiteri and the Fronditha Care Thornbury team who are supporting the older people in our community. We opened their $1.5 million upgrade to the 30-bed memory support unit.

Congratulations to Ann McGregor, Nick Williams, David Gifford and the Merri Creek Management Committee who will receive over $463,000 to restore habitat and protect our swamp wallabies along the beautiful Merri Creek.

I also joined the Minister for Energy to launch our Solar for Apartments program - a huge step forward in achieving energy equity for the large number of people living in apartments across our suburbs.

A big congratulations to Jordan Papadopoulos and the Holy Trinity Cricket Club who celebrated 100 years – it was a joy to be there with you.

Croxton Garden received a $5000 grant for an urban orchard, concept plans for our upgrade to McDonnell Park were released and Thornbury Primary opened its brand new bathrooms.

It was also lovely to celebrate Lunar New Year with the congregation at the Northcote Baptist Church.

Lastly, I’d like to acknowledge the communities who were and still are impacted by the extreme weather over the past week. Our hearts are with you.