By Cr Matt Tyler
Good government can make a profound difference in people’s lives.
At a local level, this includes supporting local jobs, promoting community connection, increasing tree canopy, contributing to additional affordable housing, investing in our parks and delivering on the basics.
Council can’t pursue these priorities alone – our community is strongest when we work together.
That’s why I make myself accessible and am strongly advocating for meaningful engagement between council and the community.
One small example is the recently completed mural at the Seabrook shops.
When you are driving past, you can’t miss the beautiful swans bringing this once bland wall to life.
The Colours of Seabrook mural was initiated through a successful 2021 Community Pitch Your Idea submission by a Seabrook resident who wanted to inject more colour into the neighbourhood.
Following funding in the 2021/22 council budget, council worked in partnership with Seabrook residents and businesses to decide on the mural’s location and theme.
Painted by accomplished artist Amanda Newman, it is a stunning addition to Seabrook that’s been driven by our community.
To celebrate this public art initiative, please join me and Cr Diana Grima on Saturday, August 6 at 11am (73-75 Point Cook Road).
I’m looking forward to council working with the body corporate and businesses at the Seabrook shops to explore more opportunities to partner in the future.
Genuine partnership with community gets results – whether it’s the small things like the recent installation (at the suggestion of a Seabrook resident) of “Stop, Look, Listen, Think” signs to improve safety for kids walking to school or bigger things like informing the design of park upgrades or the state-of-the-art Wetlands Centre to foster connection with nature.
Council’s Make it Happen grants have also supported wonderful ideas generated by our community including Monster Mayhem in the Meadows, celebration of Holi in Seabrook and the forthcoming Laverton Festival.
I’m excited to share that all 13 shortlisted Community Pitch Your Idea projects were funded in the 2022/23 Council budget.
This latest round of initiatives includes facilitating access to our toy libraries, promoting digital literacy, addressing period poverty and a range of environmental as well as sustainability initiatives.
These projects reflect a council that is ambitious in terms of what we see as possible.
We pursue this ambition in partnership with our community.
As local representatives, it’s our job to understand the needs, passions and interests of our community and reflect these in the actions we take.
To this end, connecting with our community makes me a better representative.
Please get in touch any time – mtyler@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au or fb.com/CrMattTyler.
I hope to see you on August 6 at the mural’s launch or out and about in our community.
