Cardinia calls for investment into local community places and services to improve support for individuals and families.

We ask all levels of government to work together to deliver the places and services that underpin vibrant, thriving, connected, resilient and healthy communities.

Our population growth continues to make it challenging to provide critical services and assets in a timely way.

Cardinia is also experiencing one of the largest increases in new communities from non-English speaking countries in the state. The development of a Multicultural and Community Hub would allow new residents from all cultural and faith backgrounds to connect to relevant social, education and support opportunities, greatly assisting in their settlement within the shire and connecting to their new community.

We also need equitable access to important services – such as homelessness support. This includes attracting new services to our shire to help fill critical gaps and exploring innovative service models.

We know that not everyone in our community is safe or feels safe. We have high rates of reported incidents of family violence, with 4 incidents reported across the shire each day. We need support for projects that build feelings of safety and inclusion for everyone.

All levels of government must collaborate to strategically plan the right services in the right places, at the right time.