Mt Atkinson Advocacy Forum

26/10/2026

🙏 Thank you, Kororoit! 🙏

What a turnout at yesterday’s 2026 Kororoit Candidates Forum — and in that weather! 🌧️

A big thank you to all the candidates who joined us, shared their plans and took questions from residents:

• Dr Joe Garra – The West Party
• ⁠Donna Southern – The West Party
• ⁠Joyce McDonald – The Greens
• ⁠Rayan Hassan – Victorian Socialists
• ⁠Seva Melnikov – One Nation

We also received apologies from Luba Grigorovitch (Australian Labor Party), who was unable to attend following a family bereavement. We recognise that she has attended every event hosted by MAAF in the past and our thoughts are with Luba and her family at this difficult time. 💙

🗣️ What we discussed
Residents put our community’s priorities to the candidates:

• 🚆 Priority #1: Mt Atkinson train station – delivered with or without Melton line electrification
• 🛣️ Western Freeway upgrade
• 🚧 Hopkins Rd duplication
• ⚡ Melton line electrification
• 🧑‍ Youth engagement and safety
• 🚌 Better bus services
• 🏗 Faster planning approvals for critical infrastructure such as retail precincts and the Major Town Centre
• 🏫 A secondary school and a selective school in Kororoit/ Melton

And to every resident who braved the rain to show up, listen and ask the questions that matter to our community — You made it a great afternoon.

Thanks also to Rice Community Services for hosting us and to our volunteers for making it all run smoothly. 💙

📅 Don’t forget to vote on Saturday 28 November.

📸 A few photos from the day below 👇


Dr Joe Garra
Donna Southern - The West Party for Kororoit
joyce McDonald greens
Luba Grigorovitch MP
Rayan Hassan
Melnikov

22/10/2026

📢 Have your say on the Western Freeway Commercial Area UDF

Council’s draft Urban Design Framework for the area between the Western Freeway and the Ballarat line is open for community feedback until Monday 9 November.

It will shape the large-format retail precinct, a small town centre (around 2,500 sqm of retail space), plaza and green spaces next to the Mt Atkinson Major Town Centre area. It also makes provision for a future Mt Atkinson Railway Station.

What we’d like to see:
🚆 A station and town centre that connect properly
🚌 Roads designed to accommodate future bus services
🚶 Safe walking and cycling links to the station
🌳 Green, shaded public spaces for families

🤝 Drop in this Saturday, 24 October, 10:30am–12:30pm, at the Mt Atkinson Children’s and Community Centre, 160 Clara Avenue.

Or give feedback online:
melton.vic.gov.au/western-freeway-commercial-area-udf

Two minutes now helps shape the suburb for decades. Please share with your neighbours!

20/10/2026

Mt Atkinson Sports Field

We've had a lot of questions from residents lately about what's happening around the sports fields, so here's a quick overview. 👇

📣 A district-level play space is planned for the Mt Atkinson East Recreation Reserve, behind the sports reserve near Kirkpatrick Blvd and Danube Rd.

The draft concept includes a multi-use court, climbing structures, swings, shelters with BBQs, shade trees and public toilets. 🚻

📍 Where it's at:
✅ Round 1 community consultation done
🔄 Council is reviewing feedback and revising the design
📅 Round 2 consultation and drop-in session: April 2027
🚧 Works expected to start: January 2028
🎉 Estimated completion: mid 2028

The attached plan is a draft and may change.

More info: https://conversations.melton.vic.gov.au/mt-atkinson-east-recreation-reserve-play-space

Mt Atkinson East Recreation Reserve Play Space

17/10/2026

📣 Only a week to go!

Meet the candidates, ask questions and hear their policies for the Kororoit electorate and the wider west. Make your voice heard at MAAF’s State Election Forum.

📅 Next Sunday, 25 October | 1:30pm
📍 Edmund Rice Community Services

Please share and bring a neighbour!
Our community. Our voice. 💙

13/10/2026

📣 Mt Atkinson—have your say on our future shops, transport and public spaces!

Council is seeking feedback on the Western Freeway Commercial Area—the land between the railway line and Western Freeway.

The planning document is technical, and a “support or oppose” rating doesn’t always capture what matters to residents.

My view: I support the overall vision and would like clearer answers about how it will work as development happens.

Here are some constructive questions we can raise:

🚌 Buses from the early stages
How will buses serve the first stages before the station and full road network open? When will accessible stops, shelters and safe pedestrian access be provided?

🚶 Safe connections from our homes
How will residents south of the railway safely reach the precinct before the proposed walking and cycling crossings are delivered?

🗓️ Infrastructure alongside development
Which roads, parks and public spaces must be delivered at each stage? Who will fund them, and how will residents receive progress updates?

👨‍👩‍👧 Everyday family facilities
Can accessible public toilets, baby-changing facilities and drinking water be explicitly included in the town centre’s public spaces?

🌳 How will shade be provided until trees mature?
Will shelters, awnings or other shade structures protect people at bus stops, seating areas and key walking routes from opening?

🌱 Landscaping that lasts
Can Council publish a staged planting and maintenance plan showing suitable local native species, watering arrangements, responsibility for replacing failed plants, and protection of the conservation reserves?

When completing the survey, choose the rating that reflects your view. Under “Areas for improvement”, select the relevant topics to open comment boxes and explain what you would like improved.

You can support the vision and still ask for changes.

📅 Feedback closes Monday 9 November 2026.
👉 Read the proposal and have your say

Please share with your neighbours—our everyday experience should help shape this place.

Share your feedback on the Western Freeway Commercial Area Urban Design Framework by November 9 2026.

10/10/2026

Link in our bio to register: melbournefoe.org.au/getwestmoving

Traffic. Missed connections. Long trips to school, work, uni, appointments and home. Join us in asking the following candidates the hard questions.
* Broden Borg - Labor for Melton — Labor, Melton
* Joyce McDonald — Greens, Kororoit
* Donna Southern — The West Party, Kororoit
* Jarrod Bingham — Liberal, Melton
* Xavier Menta — Legalise Cannabis, Western Metro
* Rayan Hassan — Victorian Socialists, Kororoit
* Anneke Demanuele — Victorian Socialists, Western Metropolitan
* Shania Khan — Victorian Socialists, Sydenham
* Matthew Katselis — One Nation, Melton

GetWestMoving is where our community comes together to put the big transport questions directly to the people asking for our vote.
Come for a free light lunch, bring your neighbours, share your stories and join the community conversation about the bus, rail and road connections our west needs.

Ask the hard questions before Victoria votes this November.

08/10/2026

Join us for GetWestMoving! Free food, bring your neighbours - you must register ! Broden Borg - Labor for Melton Donna Southern - The West Party for Kororoit joyce McDonald greens Jarrod Bingham - Liberal for Melton Rayan Hassan menta
Legalise Cannabis Australia Rayan Hassan and Anneke Demanuele Shania Khan socialists party
BCSV: Bus and Coach Society of Victoria
Public Transport Users Association (PTUA), Victoria, Australia

06/10/2026

🚍🚆🚗 GETWESTMOVING is happening!

Do you spend too long in traffic just to get to a station?
Are bus connections to school, work, shops or appointments difficult?
Do you have a story about how transport is affecting your family?

Then come along.

GetWestMoving is a free community forum where local residents can come together to talk about the roads, rail and bus connections Melbourne’s west needs.

We will hear local stories, have a community panel, and put questions directly to state election candidates in our Beyond Electorates candidate forum.

📍 Thornhill Park Children’s and Community Centre
📅 Saturday 17 October
🕛 12:00–4:30 pm

This is about building one better-connected west—for families, students, workers and everyone trying to get where they need to go.

Places are limited, so please register early:
https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/getwestmoving

Bring a neighbour, friend or family member. Our voices are stronger together.