Help us plan for Port Phillip

“This is the first over-arching plan – and budget - to be delivered over the four-year term of our Council and we are keen to hear from our community on whether you think we have hit the mark,” Mayor Louise Crawford said.

Cr Crawford said the draft already reflects direct feedback from almost 1300 people, including a 40-member community panel.

“Councillors have also provided their perspectives on what must be provided to ensure our City – and community – continues to thrive despite a range of social, economic and environmental challenges.”

The draft plan also includes a refreshed community vision: “a liveable and vibrant city that enhances community connection and wellbeing”. 

“This proposed plan - with its focus on community safety, connection and cohesion - is key to achieving the updated vision. I urge everyone to take a deep dive into the plan and tell us what you think,” Cr Crawford said. 

The proposed three per cent average general rates increase is in line with this year’s rates cap. Over the past four years, the Victorian Government’s rates cap has been set significantly below inflation, which has put pressure on Council’s ability to fund and deliver services. Despite this, the draft budget maintains an ongoing efficiency target. 

Themes woven into to the draft plan reflecting preliminary community input include:

Community safety
The draft Budget includes an additional $250,000 to fund new actions flowing from the recent Community Safety Roundtable and the updated Community Safety Plan under development.

Community connection and cohesion 
Additional $250,000 to fund activities addressing loneliness and isolation, social connection and combating discrimination and racism and anti-Semitism, including $60,000 to fast track the delivery of the Multicultural Strategy. There’s also a $1.2 million allocation for affordable housing to be provided over two years, pending the development of the updated housing and homelessness strategy.

Improved amenity 
Additional $200,000 to uplift city amenity, including increased street cleaning and pressure washing of main streets across Port Phillip, and an extra $9 million over the next decade towards improving roads and local infrastructure.

Events and festivals 
Consolidation of the St Kilda Festival to enable an additional $450,000 to be invested in arts and community strengthening initiatives. The specifics of these will be agreed by Councillors after the budget process but may include increased grant opportunities and greater prioritisation on events and activations across the municipality.   

Greener City, including access to open space 
Additional $400,000 to improve greening throughout the City, including the development of urban forest precinct plans, and an extra $4.5 million for the demolition and remediation of the newly acquired Sandridge public open space. 

These are just some of the projects and initiatives encompassed in the comprehensive draft plan which provides a roadmap on serving the Port Phillip community right now – and for years to come.

For more details and to learn how you can have your say online and in person, go to:

Plan for Port Phillip 2025-35 | Have Your Say Port Phillip

Feedback closes on 18 May 2025. Council will then review all submissions and prepare a report summarising the community’s input. A final plan will be adopted in June.