City of Maribyrnong's future taking shape

Published on 18 June 2025

The City of Maribyrnong’s future direction for at least the next four years is starting to take shape, with today’s release of draft revisions for key Council documents and an updated Community Vision.

The draft documents for the new four-year Council Plan, the Asset and Financial Plans, as well as the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan, are the result of multiple conversations with the community, which began in July 2024. During this time, we have engaged around 2,500 residents, who provided 700 comments online or at in-person opportunities, including a deliberative engagement process.

The current Community Vision in the Maribyrnong 2040: Community Plan, was endorsed in 2018. Following community engagement, we have refined the draft statement to be: “A sustainable, vibrant city where history is acknowledged, differences are respected, and diverse communities are supported to connect and thrive.”

The Council Plan is a critical document that guides what we do, and how we do it. A new draft Council Plan is developed after every Local Government election, providing the most significant opportunity for our community to help shape the delivery of services and activities for the next four years.

The five key Strategic Objectives listed in the draft Council Plan are:

Ethical Governance – Council will govern ethically, with consultation, integrity and transparency
Wellbeing and Safety – Council will create actively engaged, socially connected, and healthy communities.
Environmental Sustainability – Council will create and shape healthy built and natural environments
Thriving Community – Council will drive innovation and future-focused change to shape a resilient and adaptable city
Connected Community – Council will build a connected, vibrant city where neighbourhoods thrive

The draft Asset Plan guides the efficient and effective management of our assets, such as buildings, roads and drainage system, through to footpaths, bike paths and parks and ovals, over a 10-year-period. As part of this conversation, Council wants to know if residents agree with the types of asset classes we have, and if they support the proposed allocation of funds to close the renewal gap over the next 10 years.

The draft Financial Plan considers both the current financial situation and future projections to support delivery of projects, initiatives, and programs our community thinks is most important for our City over the next 10 years.

We are also engaging on the draft Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan, which has been developed as a standalone document for the first time. The draft Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan contributes to the state-wide health priorities set out in the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2023-2027, ensuring local initiatives drive broader health outcomes.

Mayor, Cr Pradeep Tiwari said the suite of draft documents were important to the future strategic direction of Council.

“Recognising each of these documents determine future service delivery across the municipality, we believe it is important everyone – who wants to – should have an opportunity to provide feedback. That’s why we are keen to hear from as many residents as possible to ensure each draft is in line with community expectations,” he said.

“This is particularly true of the updated Community Vision – your vision – to ensure it reflects aspirations and goals of our community.”

You can provide feedback in-person at one of the in-person engagement events:

Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre: Monday 23 June, 4-6pm
Footscray Library: Friday 27 June, 5-6.30pm
Yarraville Pop-up Park: Saturday 5 July, 10am-12pm
Braybrook Community Hub: Tuesday 8 July, 3-6pm
Maidstone Community Centre: Wednesday 9 July, 10-11am

If you don’t have the capacity to attend in person, you can also provide feedback online at yourcityyourvoice.com.au/council-plan

Feedback closes midnight Sunday 13 July 2025.

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