Few Melbourne residents would be unfamiliar with the area encompassed by the City of Whitehorse. Its name derives from one of Melbourne’s most well known thoroughfares, Whitehorse Road.
A quick drive from the CBD, Whitehorse is predominantly and proudly suburban.
Large established residential blocks in tree lined streets are a hallmark of the Municipality. The City also has a thriving retail sector and burgeoning high tech industry.
It also features over 200 hectares of bushland reserves, lakes and creek valleys.
In a City proud of its pleasant leafy lifestyle, environmental awareness is high. Attention to the physical appearance of Whitehorse is a high priority both for residents and Council.
Acting Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Wright, said the built and natural attributes are among the most important factors in Council’s future direction. A $20 million capital works program to improve the City’s appearance and amenity clearly illustrates this.
“Whitehorse is a very environmentally aware community and our capital works program to improve appearance and amenity is a reflection of that concern,” he said.
“By improving the physical appearance we can have a direct impact on people’s satisfaction with their lifestyle.
“Furthermore, by improving streetscapes, undergrounding powerlines, planting more trees and investing in better street furniture and other assets, we improve the City’s economic potential.”
These improvements have attracted new clean industry to the City and increased the viability of large and small local shopping centres.
“People are now coming out to dine in restaurants and streetside cafes to take advantage of all the improvements we have made,” he said.
“The capital works program is being achieved while we progressively aim for a position of financial sustainability,” Stephen Wright said.
“Council has budgeted well in excess of the amount needed to maintain infrastructure in order to ensure that community standards are being increased.
“The program also takes account of the need to ensure facilities are designed to be multi purpose to accommodate the City’s changing needs.”
Most importantly, he said the community is right behind Council in its endeavours.
“Following amalgamation the new City had an anxious start, but since elected Councillors have returned we have been able to build a new community spirit embracing new approaches and new policies,” Stephen Wright said.
“With a series of community events, great public art and the extensive physical improvement program, we are now establishing a community with a strength and vitality that transcends the two former Municipalities.”
