Learn more about Council’s advocacy priorities, development and infrastructure projects that support economic growth and prosperity for your community and the northern region.
We invite the local business community to join us in advocating for key priorities to build our regional economy. Contact our Investment Attraction department for a confidential discussion at invest@whittlesea.vic.gov.au or call 03 9217 2170.
We're working to advance the Melbourne Food Innovation and Export Hub (MFIX) at Epping as a transformational project for Melbourne’s north. We believe this project will position the City of Whittlesea and Victoria as a food hub of national significance, creating incentive for a major anchor tenant to in turn attract innovative food manufacturing and export businesses.
Beveridge Intermodal Freight Terminal (BIFT) is a transformational project for Victoria. The project is significant as both a long term freight terminal and a major future employment precinct.
We welcome businesses to partner with us to advocate for improved infrastructure connections to harness the potential of this precinct, benefitting business and the broader community. Strengths of this precinct include being:
- strategically located to maximise links to the inland rail, Hume Freeway and proposed E6/Outer Metropolitan Ring Road
- more than 1,000 hectares of land identified for the BIFT and associated freight and logistics.
Learn more
We are advocating for major upgrades to Victorian State Government-owned arterial roads for increased capacity and decreased congestion.
Other major road advocacy priorities include:
- Craigieburn Road duplication between Epping Road and Hume Freeway
- Donnybrook Road duplication between Epping Road and the Merri Creek
- Epping Road duplication between Craigieburn Road East and Bridge Inn Road
- Findon Road declare and duplicate between Plenty Road and Epping Road
- Bridge Inn Road declare and duplicate between Plenty Road and Wellington Street.
Our public transport advocacy priorities include:
- delivery of a train line to Wollert
- extension to Tram Route 86 from University Hill to the Plenty Valley Town Centre
- improved and extended bus services and frequencies.
Download fact sheets
Beveridge Intermodal Freight Terminal fact sheet(PDF, 4MB)
Melbourne Food Innovation and Export Hub fact sheet(PDF, 4MB)
Find out more about our advocacy priorities
Thomastown's industrial area has become a sought-after business hub. To build on this success and to facilitate employment growth, we've developed the Thomastown Industrial Area Plan.
This strategic document promotes a long-term vision for Thomastown industrial area. It focuses on actions to inform a range of projects that support our Economic Development Strategy.
Find out more about the Thomastown Industrial Area Plan
Plenty Valley Town Centre contains several important business, retail, community and transport activities. These include Westfield Plenty Valley and the South Morang Train Station, which both service the wider region. It is also recognised by the Victorian State Government as an important activity centre.
The Plenty Valley Town Centre Structure Plan is a key project to prepare our vision for the town centre. It provides a framework for the centre's development over the next 20 years.
Find out more about the Plenty Valley Structure Plan
Mernda Town Centre is a developing major activity centre located at the corner of Plenty and Bridge Inn roads and next to the Mernda Train Station.
Stage 1 of the development comprising 7,900 m2 for retail floorspace includes a supermarket, specialty retail, food and beverage outlets and an interim library facility.
The development will ultimately offer community facilities including:
- Whittlesea Community Hospital (under construction)
- a library/community centre facility
- additional retail and commercial development
- housing
- public realm improvements including a town square and Mayfield Farm Heritage site.
Read the Mernda Strategy Plan
The Cooper Street West employment precinct (including Cooper Street South West and O’Herns Road precincts) present significant opportunities for future industrial investment.
Cooper Street’s role as a state significant waste and resource recovery hub has been identified in the Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan (SWWRRIP). This precinct will continue service the local community and support initiatives to increase recovery and improved management of waste. Industrial opportunities are also available.
The O’Herns Road Logistics Park provides significant opportunities for industrial development with direct access to the Hume Freeway via the O’Herns Road interchange. Other industrial development opportunities in the precinct exist at 4Ten Epping and 481 Cooper Street.
The following major roads are currently being upgraded.
- Epping Road duplication - Memorial Avenue to Craigieburn Road, Epping/Wollert (due for completion 2025)
- Bridge Inn Road urbanisation and duplication - Plenty Road to Yan Yean Road, Mernda/Doreen (due for completion 2025)
Find out about our Road and Public Transport Plan
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