Hume City Council has called on both the Victorian and Commonwealth governments to engage closely with local residents ahead of planning and construction of the new dedicated quarantine facility in Mickleham.
Today's announcement came to the attention of Council through media reports.
Hume Mayor Councillor Joseph Haweil said there are a number of important questions the community needs answered – most importantly how the community’s health and wellbeing will be protected.
“It is vital that Council and our residents are consulted and engaged with throughout the planning and build of the facility – and that concerns are heard, respected and appropriately addressed,” Cr Haweil.
While details of the facility's impact on local infrastructure have not been made available, Council anticipates that the facility will add further strain to critical arterial road infrastructure already experiencing immense growth pressures.
Cr Haweil said Mickleham is Australia’s fastest-growing suburb – welcoming 3,000 new residents in 2020 and part of a growth corridor undergoing some of the fastest growth in Australia.
“We call on the Victorian and Australian Governments to invest in urgently needed roads infrastructure to support the growth in the Melbourne’s north and the additional impact this new facility will have on traffic volumes and congestion of our roads.
"With Hume City and its people being called on to do the heavy lifting in rebuilding the economy and opening up the state and nation, they can reasonably expect that long-standing advocacy on the duplication of Mickleham and Donnybrook Roads sees results.”
Cr Haweil said Council would continue to advocate for more investment in Melbourne’s north and in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the community.