Press Releases

The new agreement between the operators fo Yarra Trams, KDR, and the State Government includes:

• Yarra Trams to continue to be the operating name of Melbourne’s Tram Service
  
• 50 new large low floor trams on the way
  
• 33 Z Class Trams to be renovated and updated
  
• Creation of the KDR Customer Service and Safety Training Academy
  
• Improved punctuality targets – up from 78 to 82 percent
  

New Grants have been announced to strengthen the world game in our local communities

Grant information is available on this website

Australia’s budding stars for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup Finals could be nurtured by a new Brumby Labor Government program, Strengthening the World Game.

Soccer clubs, organisations and local councils can now apply to Strengthening the World Game for up to $100,000 to upgrade or build their club facilities.

Victoria has seen strong demand for soccer, and the Victorian Football Federation reports a growth in registrations for junior soccer in the order of 18.6 percent between 2007 and 2008.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to kick off even more participation in local soccer clubs,” the State Member for Brunswick, Carlo Carli, said.

“Improving club facilities will encourage community involvement in the sport – which will lead to an increase of active and healthy lives,“ Mr. Carli said.

“Local soccer clubs have had unprecedented growth and it’s placed great demand on
existing facilities. These grants will help those clubs keep their players on the field,” Mr. Carli said.

A Brumby Government blitz on rooming houses to improve the living conditions of many of Victoria’s most vulnerable community members has been welcomed by local MP Carlo Carli

The Premier, John Brumby today announced that Consumer Affairs Victoria would employ 12 dedicated inspectors specifically trained and dedicated to rooming houses to step up enforcement efforts.

The Consumer Affairs Victoria inspectors will work with local council inspectors to:

• Undertake more inspections of rooming houses;


• Ensure rooming houses are properly registered; and


• Issue compliance notices to ensure rooming houses comply with minimum standards.

“The conditions of some rooming houses are a blight on our suburbs,” Mr. Carli said.

“I am very happy that the government is taking action on those predatory operators of intentionally sub-standard rooming houses who prey on some of the most vulnerable members of our community”

Mr Brumby also announced a new rooming house taskforce, which would meet for the first time this Friday and report back to Government within six weeks on a new set of minimum standards and enforcement of standards for rooming houses.

The taskforce includes representatives from peak groups such as the Victorian Council on Social Service, the Council for Homeless Persons, the Municipal Association of Victoria and the Real Estate Institute of Victoria, as well as housing providers.

Melbourne’s public transport network has shown its support for World Environment Day today with the launch of Yarra Trams’ latest ‘greendepot’ at Brunswick.

Greendepots have already implemented at three other depots including East Preston, Malvern and Glenhuntly.

Incorporating water and energy saving systems, greendepots reduce environmental impacts and encourage sustainable practices

Member for Brunswick, Carlo Carli MP, said the existing depots save a combined 4.09 million litres of water each year, with the Brunswick Depot expected to harvest an additional 2.5 million litres of water annually.

- Brunswick women to benefit from better sporting facilities
- $60,000 from Victorian Government to help refurbish Sumner park pavilion

Brunswick women, girls and their familes will have more opportunities to get physically active thanks to $60,000 in Victorian Government funding to upgrade the Sumner Park pavilion in Brunswick East.

The Sumner Park pavilion, used by women and girls teams at the Brunswick Zebras, would be upgraded thanks to Moreland City Council receiving a grant through the Community Facility Funding Program – Minor Facilities Category.

Today Carlo Carli and Kelvin Thomson, Federal Member for Wills, announced $450,000 in works at 351 Barkly Street, Brunswick.  351 Barkly Street is a public housing high rise supporting older people.

The works are part of the Rudd Labor Government's Nation Builidng Economic Stimulus Plan designed to support jobs and provide much needed investment in social housing.

A full copy of the press release is after the jump.

Local artists are banding together to raise funds for the 48,000 people made homeless by last months earthquake in the city of L’Aquila, Italy.

The benefit organised by local musicians and community leaders, will take place on Sunday May 24 at the Coburg Town Hall Doors Open at 5pm.

- Budget to secure 35,000 jobs in the next 12 months
- Schools, public transport, health big winners
- A traditional Labor budget, protecting jobs while investing for the future

Investing in infrastructure to secure jobs, stimulate the economy, and support Victorian families from the impact of the Global Financial Crisis are the hallmarks of the Brumby Labor Government’s 2009 State Budget.

Member for Brunswick, Carlo Carli MP today welcomed the Brumby Labor Government’s 2009 State Budget and its record $11.5 billion infrastructure investment that will secure up to 35,000 jobs in the coming 12 months.

- Federal and State Government announce $402 million in school infrastructure funding
- $2 million for new classrooms and Library at Pascoe Vale South Primary School
- More funding announcements in the months ahead

A Brumby Labor Government state budget boost of $402 million will deliver new school buildings to stimulate the economy now and deliver on the Government’s plan to rebuild, renovate or extend every government school in the state.

 The Brumby Labor Government has called on residents in Brunswick to make the stimulus last. Residents may want to consider spending their Commonwealth Stimulus payments on solar hotwater systems and other investments that cut costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

Brunswick MP, Carlo Carli said the stimulus payments, combined with Brumby Government rebates are a great opportunity for households to make a long-term difference to their energy and water bills.

Resolving conflicts between different uses of our roads - walking, cycling, public transport, private transport - is a vexed issue for an city, especially Melbourne.  The government is trying to take some small steps to resolve some of these tensions, as Carlo dscusses below.

Mr CARLI (Brunswick) -- It is a great pleasure to rise in support of the Transport Legislation Miscellaneous Amendments Bill. It is something of an omnibus bill in that there are a number of changes to a number of pieces of legislation that deal with transport, port services and the Marine Act. The bill is transport related, but there are a number of small but significant proposed changes to other legislation. I particularly want to focus on the changes to the Road Management Act in terms of the priority and the designation of the priority of trams, buses, bicycles, pedestrians and freight traffic on roads.

Cleaning up graffiti has just got easier, with Council's around Victoria being allocated funds to carry out community based anti-graffiti projects.

In Moreland kits will be created and distributed to residents, schools, community groups and traders to help clean up graffiti.

- $2.5 million from the Brumby Labor Government to redevelop Brunswick Baths
- Part of a $15 million facelift that will fix the pools, retain the toddler pool and expand the gym
- Will conserve water and lower emissions

I am pleased to announce that the Victorian Government is contributing $2.5 million towards the redevelopment of the Brunswick City Baths

Brunswick City Baths is one of the most important community facilities in Brunswick. It is used by everyone—young and old, healthy and infirm. And it has been this way for over ninety years

 Dawson Street Child Care Co-operative is amongst nine childcare providers in the Brunswick electorate that will share in $10.7 million in Brumby Government grants to buy equipment, expand surfaces, renovate and improve general amenities.

Nine local services each received grants as part of the Brumby Government’s boost to the state’s early childhood services.

Dawson Street Child Care Co-operative would receive $100,000 to extend the toddlers room to increase capacity, and to install a new entry gate and pathway.