By Charlene Gatt
MARIBYRNONG City Council is establishing a Committee for Braybrook to revitalise the 3019 area.
The committee, which will include the Mayor, ward councillor and stakeholders from a range of sectors, will work to advocate and promote support for investment in Braybrook.
Local celebrities will also be called on to raise the profile of the area, while plans to achieve a more appropriate mix of housing and open more early years facilities and a library are also in the mix.
Braybrook remains the second most disadvantaged suburb in Victoria, according to the Socio Economic Index for Areas.
A report tabled at last week’s council meeting revealed indicators of wellbeing for Braybrook residents remained poor despite an eight-year Neighbourhood Renewal program and sporadic investment from different levels of government.
The report listed a number of challenges facing Braybrook residents, including an 8.2 per cent unemployment rate, low weekly incomes, poor literacy and English language skills, high rates of annual losses on poker machines and low rates on home internet connection.
To top it off, nearly one in every four homes in Braybrook currently fall under public housing, compared to the Melbourne average of 2.7 per cent.
“There is a need for more targeted and sustained whole of council and whole of government investment in Braybrook,” the report read.
“These statistics are damning in, and of themselves, however, what they don’t show and what is equally concerning is the inter-generational disadvantage faced in Braybrook.
“For many households, poor health, low literacy, low education rates and unemployment and/or low income has become the norm and is experienced across generations.”
Mayor Sarah Carter branded the level of disadvantage within Braybrook ridiculous.
“I am very hopeful that we will get some support one way or another.”
