Edition 8: April 2025 Councils across Melbourne’s north have been successful in recent advocacy campaigns, bringing much-needed investment into our region. Banyule, Hume, Merri-bek and Mitchell provide examples of how their advocacy efforts have resulted in gains for their communities. ​ Mitchell Over the last few years, Mitchell Shire Council’s advocacy has resulted in over $2.73 billion of investment within the Shire and the region. This includes more than $1.08 billion in

Edition 8: April 2025 Our Connect Melbourne’s North: It’s time to transform our transport campaign is seeking urgent action to improve the transport system across our region. ​ The goal of our campaign is to transform the transport infrastructure in Melbourne's north to address severe traffic congestion, lengthy commutes, limited access to essential services and increasing social isolation. ​ Melbourne’s north region is home to one million people, accounting for 20 per cent

Edition 8: April 2025 Healthcare in Melbourne’s north is at a critical juncture. With a rapidly growing population and existing health services stretched beyond capacity, urgent investment is required to meet the increasing needs of our community. ​ The NCA is calling for a firm commitment from federal and state governments to deliver a new public hospital in the outer north – one that provides vital emergency care and specialist services, including obstetrics, dialysis, o

Edition 8: April 2025 ​In 2025, the NCA will continue with strong advocacy for better transport connectivity, ensuring Melbourne’s north has the services and infrastructure it needs to thrive. Improving the Upfield rail line remains a top priority for us, with a focus on increased frequency, electrification beyond Upfield and better connections to key employment and education hubs. ​ In addition, we are pushing for an expansion of bus services across the region, including a

Edition 8: April 2025 Commitments by the Federal Government and Coalition for Upfield Line improvements NCA advocacy for the duplication, extension and electrification of the Upfield Line to Wallan has resulted in both parties prioritising funding for this important project. At the NCA, we welcome the recent announcement of the Federal Government’s investment of $7.05 million to develop a comprehensive business case for the much-needed uplift of services in the Northern Gr

Edition 9: November 2025 NCA advocacy leads from the seven Councils attended Parliament House in September to learn more about committee inquiries and various functions of the Victorian Parliament. We met with parliamentary committee managers and discussed opportunities to participate in parliamentary committee inquiries. We also met Press Gallery President, Kieran Rooney, who spoke to us about political reporting and press coverage of issues. ​ You can read more about Par

Edition 9: November 2025 In October we launched another stage in our Connect Melbourne’s North transport campaign, designed to improve transport options across the region. ​ Each of our seven Mayors has delivered a strong message via a video link, which was widely circulated across social and other media. The focus being on encouraging local residents and businesses to share their stories about transport. ​Our community experiences severe road congestion, fragmented transpo

Edition 9: November 2025 A high-level delegation from Melbourne’s north also visited Canberra in August, achieving a series of productive meetings with key federal leaders. ​ Organised by the NCA and local economic development organisation NORTH Link, our visit highlighted the region’s pressing infrastructure needs and its potential as a hub of jobs, education and innovation. ​ The delegation brought together a broad representation of senior decision-makers, including Mayors

Edition 9: November 2025 In a focused effort to advance regional priorities, the NCA and NORTH Link brought together Mayors, council CEOs and regional leaders for a delegation to Victorian Parliament in mid-October. Our delegation comprised a strong cross-section of leaders, including Mayors and CEOs from member Councils and senior representatives from Melbourne Polytechnic, Northern Health and Kangan Institute. Through discussions with Ministers and the Opposition, we highl

Edition 9: November 2025 Over recent months, the NCA has taken significant steps to advance the interests of Melbourne’s north through high-level delegations to state and federal parliaments. ​ These delegations brought together Mayors, council CEOs and regional leaders to present a united voice on the urgent need for coordinated investment in transport, employment and health. ​ Our discussions with Ministers and Opposition representatives at both levels of government were c

The NCA is calling on residents and local businesses in Melbourne's north to speak up about the real impacts of inadequate and unreliable transport in their daily lives. From overloaded roads across our region, to unsafe bike links and inadequate services in rural areas, and lack of connected services in our inner suburbs, each council has highlighted its local issues. But they share a common goal: better transport for everyone in Melbourne’s north. Visit www.connectmelbourne

NCA Mayors. Back L>R: Cr Martin Taylor, Mayor City of Whittlesea; Cr John Dougall, Mayor Mitchell Shire Council and Cr John Dumaresq, Mayor Nillumbik Shire Council. Front L>R: Cr Kristine Olaris OAM, Mayor City of Darebin, Cr Elizabeth Nealy. Mayor Banyule City Council, Cr Helen Davidson, Mayor Merri-bek City Council and Chair of the NCA, and Cr Jarrod Bell, Mayor Hume City Council. In late August, the Northern Councils Alliance, together with NORTH Link, travelled to Canberr

The NCA Mayors have officially launched a campaign to improve transport across Melbourne's north. Titled: Connect Melbourne’s North: It’s time to transform our transport: is joint effort from seven councils to advocate for better transport options across the region. Melbourne's north is growing fast but population growth hasn’t been matched with the necessary investment in transport. Our community is experiencing ongoing issues with inadequate transport services that don’t

Rail investments are needed to resolve critical constraints on train services in Melbourne's north. We need effective train networks to alleviate congestion on key roads, support current and future communities to access jobs and essential services, improve social connection and reduce climate change emissions. That's why the NCA is calling for the duplication and extension of the Upfield Rail Line. Duplication between Gowrie and Upfield Stations, extension to the Craigiebur

Click here to view NCA's Northern Region Strategy and Bus Networking resources

The NCA welcomes the Federal Government’s 2022 Budget commitment of $1.2 billion towards the Beveridge Intermodal Freight Terminal.

Northern metro councils call out Victorian Government plans to stop paying rates on social housing.

Our Mayors and CEOs reaffirmed their commitment to regional advocacy ahead of the 2022 Federal and State budget and election cycles.