Future Footscray
Katie HALL (Footscray) (10:45): Change is coming to my community in Melbourne’s inner west, and that change is coming in the form of generational investment from the Allan Labor government. It is changing through the new Footscray Hospital, a $1.5 billion investment unlike anything else in Victoria; it is changing through the $146 million invested to create the Footscray learning precinct; it is changing through the construction of the West Gate Tunnel and the truck bans, which will be enforced by cameras delivered by me and the member for Williamstown in this year’s budget; and it is changing through the addition of the Metro Tunnel, of which Footscray is the main beneficiary, an upgrade to Footscray Community Arts Centre, new trams and a transformed Whitten Oval, as well as an upgraded Tweddle.
It is because of this generational investment in the inner west that I am establishing Future Footscray, a community-led group that will work together to envision Footscray as the vibrant hub of Melbourne’s inner west. It is because of this generational investment that we have an opportunity to capitalise on our community’s super diversity, creating opportunities for a sustainable, inclusive and vibrant precinct. Future Footscray will be a long-term project, guiding short-, medium- and long-term investments for this amazing part of Melbourne for a bright future for residents and for businesses in Footscray’s CBD.