Hume City Council, the City of Whittlesea and Mitchell Shire Council have co-signed a historic partnership which will see the organisations collaborate for the planning and delivery of a new city to service the region’s growing northern corridor.
Cloverton will service a wide regional catchment covering three Local Government Areas (Hume, Mitchell and Whittlesea) and will be the primary employment and service centre for the growing suburbs of Mickleham, Kalkallo, Donnybrook, Beveridge and Wallan – estimated at 380,000 residents and 50,000 jobs when it is complete.
The designation of the city as a Metropolitan Activity Centre comes from the Victorian State Government, similar to that put in place for areas such as Dandenong, Ringwood, Broadmeadows, Epping, and Box Hill.
The Council partnership has been created to work together to ensure Cloverton, which straddles all three Council boundaries, will be effectively developed as a new city for the north of Melbourne. Cloverton will comprise not only shopping but also health services and education as well as recreational opportunities, the Councils said in a statement.
“Through our important local alignment, we are sharing the vision of helping communities stay connected by having access to essential services close to home,” said Hume City Council Mayor, Joseph Haweil.
“Our Regional Partnership with the Whittlesea and Mitchell Shire councils is critical in delivering Cloverton city because we know what’s needed to better the lives of our northern communities isa coordination of effort, imagination and resources.”
“Cloverton city will ensure the large population in Cloverton and surrounds remain connected and serviced through a centralised hub close to home, something that can only be achieved through careful coordination of our resources and collaboration across our three council areas as well as the State Government.”
Representatives from each of the three councils last week came together in a joint Council Meeting to endorse the vision and principles of how the partnership will continue to work together to make Cloverton a reality.
The three councils say they will work together to seek further support and a genuine partnership with the State Government to ensure the precinct is delivered in an innovative, integrated and sustainable way.
“This innovative approach to quality future development is a great example of what can be achieved when we work together to plan for population growth,” said Mitchell Shire Council Mayor, Fiona Stevens.
“This activity centre will be a game changer as the expanding areas bordering Melbourne to the north continue to transform with vital jobs, services and facilities to support around 380,000 people who are going to call the area home.
“By formalising the partnership between the three councils, we commit to a clear vision about how we will work together and we send a clear message to the Victorian Government that we want to partner with them to plan and deliver an exciting, innovative and sustainable new city not seen in the outer suburbs before.”
City of Whittlesea Chair Administrator, Lydia Wilson is was vital the councils also worked closely with the Victorian Government to ensure the establishment of Cloverton is underpinned by high quality planning and development.
“By working together, we can create exciting new communities where people and families can grow and thrive,” she said.
“We want to create neighbourhoods that cater for the social, economic and infrastructure needs of our diverse community now and into the future.
“We are thrilled to be a key partner in the creation of a new city of such regional significance right here in the north,” said Ms Wilson.
