By Parker McKenzie
Six projects in Boronia have received over $1 million in funding from the state government and council, with community projects and organisations, local traders and sports clubs the big winners.
State government funding, delivered through the Boronia Revitalisation Board, awarded $136,500 for the Boronia Community Breakfast Program by Knox Infolink, $50,000 for a series of neurodiverse inclusion events with local organisations, $50,000 for the Boronia Community Grants Program, $150,000 for sports field lighting at Chandler Park, $200,000 for pedestrian wayfinding signage at the Boronia Activity Centre and $395,000 for a full year program for place-making and retail activation.
Bayswater MP and chair of the Boronia Revitalisation Board Jackson Taylor said he was proud to have delivered “around $4 million in funding as a part of the Revitalisation Board.”
“This new funding will mean even more important projects delivered right here in Boronia to continue the work of seeing our suburb live up to the potential we know it has,” he said.
Knox City Council will contribute $342,400 towards the projects.
Mayor Susan Laukens said the projects funded are a part of Knox City Council’s Boronia Renewal Strategy.
“Council welcomes the funding announced by the Victorian Government today and Council is proud to announce our own further investment in this vital urban hub,” she said.
“Revival of this area is so important as Council looks to reactivate local businesses and support a strong local economy.”
Knox Infolink manager Denise Budge told the Star Mail on 29 September the breakfast program engages with members of the Boronia community who are hard to.
“Food might have been the hook when they come in for a meal,” she said.
“Once we get to know them we unpack what the underlying issues are and then we try to support them through a caseworker.”
The 12-month program for place-making and retail activation will “engage traders and deliver arts, cultural and economic development projects,” according to the state government. It will deliver at least six trader meetings on a bi-monthly basis, six events and additional projects “aimed at growing visitation to Boronia and continuing to improve the visual amenity of the streetscape such as further murals etc following consultation with businesses.”
The Boronia Revitalisation Board was established by the Victorian state government in 2021 as a part of the Suburban Revitalisation Project, to “a local voice to the Victorian Government’s Suburban Revitalisation program, working with local communities to identify opportunities for locally-led projects to make Boronia thrive.”
For more information on the projects or the Boronia Revitalisation Board, visit suburbandevelopment.vic.gov.au/suburban-revitalisation/boronia
