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Description
Brimbank Council is calling for urgent intervention from the State Government to find a solution to deliver the Upper Stony Creek Transformation Project in Sunshine North. Read more: https://www.buzz.brimbank.vic.gov.au/brimbank-calls-for-environmental-justice-for-the-west/
A
Good
morning,
everybody
and
welcome
for
those
who
don't
know
me,
my
name
is
counselor
Lucinda,
Congreve
and
I
am
the
mayor
of
Broome
Bank,
City
Council,
just
before
I
start
I'd
like
to
acknowledge
the
traditional
custodians
of
the
land.
There
were
injury
people
and
to
pay
our
respects
to
elders
past
and
present
and
I'd
like
to
start
by
thanking
everybody
for
coming
out
today
on
such
short
notice
and
in
particular,
our
wonderful
community
and
my
fellow
councillors.
A
I
do
have
to
say,
though,
that
I
am
terribly
disappointed
to
have
had
to
call
this
event
this
morning
and
as
such
poor
circumstances.
What
we
should
be
doing
is
standing
here
at
this
site
celebrating
something
wonderful,
a
transformational
environmental
project
that
was
destined
to
be
life-changing
for
many
in
our
community.
But
instead
we
are
here.
We
are
standing
in
front
of
what
can
be
called
a
whopping
great
hole
in
the
ground,
surrounded
by
temporary
fencing.
A
We
stand
here
today
on
the
site
of
the
Upper
Stoney
Creek
transformational
project
and,
as
you
can
see
behind
me,
works
have
come
to
a
standstill
when
these
projects
began.
The
project
partners,
which
include
all
levels
of
government
and
the
private
sector,
had
a
vision,
and
it
was
a
truly
wonderful
vision
and
that
was
to
rehabilitate
a
1.2
kilometre
section
of
Upper
Stoney
Creek.
This
area
was
once
a
beautiful
natural
waterway
and
some
50
plus
years
ago
it
was
turned
into
a
concrete
drain.
This
project,
the
one
we
are
standing
in
front
of
today.
A
A
However,
and
as
happens
with
many
projects
in
Bern
Bank
shortly
after
breaking
ground,
it
was
discovered
that
this
site
was
contaminated.
Given
rim
banks,
rich
industrial
heritage,
contamination
was
not
unexpected
at
this
site.
In
fact,
it
was
foreseen
by
the
project
partners
by
the
government
by
us,
but
of
course
not
to
this
extent,
the
cost
of
the
remediation
work
on
this
project
has
been
extensive.
The
project's
original
budget
has
now
been
exhausted,
and
that
brings
us
to
now.
That
brings
us
to
today.
As
you
can
see
behind
me,
the
works
on
this
site
have
stopped.
A
The
project
has
come
to
a
standstill.
If
we
don't
get
the
funding
that
we
need
to
remediate
this
site
and
to
finish
the
job
as
early
as
next
week,
the
contractors
and
the
contract
of
work
will
be
cancelled.
The
funding
partners
are
walking
away,
which
is
a
devastating
result
for
this
community,
for
bream
Bank
and
for
the
West.
What
was
once
a
hot
beacon
of
hope
for
the
West,
a
transformational
project
that
was
destined
to
be
a
first
in
the
southern
hemisphere
is
fast
becoming
an
issue
of
environmental
injustice
for
the
West.
A
What
the
project
partners
wanted
to
create
right
here
with
the
support
of
our
surrounding
residents,
would
essentially
become
a
natural
cool
zone
for
the
community.
In
times
of
heatwave,
we
know
that
in
times
of
heat,
it
is
generally
cooler
to
be
by
running
water.
This
project,
this
highly
innovative
project,
would
allow
Council
or
Melbourne
Water
to
literally
flick
a
switch
in
times
of
extreme
heat
and
turn
on
a
series
of
pumps
which
which
would
create
a
water
flow
down
the
creek
and
turn
it
into
a
natural
pool
zone,
a
natural
air
conditioner.
A
If
you
will,
it
would
be
a
refuge
for
some
of
Melvin's,
most
vulnerable
communities
who
we
know
disproportionately,
feel
the
impact
of
climate
change
and
are
particularly
vulnerable
to
heat
to
our
community.
What
we
have
now
is
an
unfinished
project,
and
our
community
needs
to
see
this
completed.
To
do
this,
to
see
this
wonderful
initiative
come
to
life
for
our
community
and
for
the
mess
West
more
funding
is
needed.
A
Broome
Bank
this
council.
This
community
contribute
millions
of
dollars
in
levy
fees
to
the
sustainability
fund.
We
carry
the
burden
of
historical
landfills,
toxic
waste
issues
and
we
as
a
community,
get
very
little
back
in
support
for
environmental
projects.
We
need
to
finish
the
job
here
at
Stony
Creek.
This
is
about
more
than
simply
rehabilitating
a
waterway.
This
is
about
the
West
and
it's
about
the
people.
It's
about
cleaning
up
historic
waste
issues
that
continue
to
impact
on
our
community.
A
For
far
too
long,
the
people
of
Bryn
Bank
and
the
West
have
continued
to
bear
the
burden
that
comes
with
having
a
large,
unfair
share
of
the
harmful
effects
of
pollution
and
the
historical
mismanagement
into
environmental
habit
hazards
due
to
the
proximity
to
our
existing
landfills,
heavy
industry,
as
well
as
legacy
contaminated
land
issues.
I
just
want
to
finish
up
today
by
saying
that
this
is
not
about
politics.
This
is
about
fairness,
it's
about
justice,
it's
about
doing!
What's
right
and
it's
about
equity,
to
Melbourne
water
and
to
the
state
governments.
A
We
say
you
can't
walk
away
now.
Don't
leave
us
with
a
whopping,
great
hole
in
the
ground,
Daniel
Andrews
I'm,
calling
on
you
I'm,
calling
on
your
government.
We
need
your
help
on
this
one.
We
need
your
government
to
come
to
the
table.
Let's
finish
the
job
that
we
started
right
here.
Let's
give
this
community
their
Oasis,
let's
give
them
their
heat
refuge
and
let's
deliver
on
our
promises.
Thank
you.
Everybody
for
coming
today.