Cr Dr Phillip Zada - Mount Atkinson Ward - Melton City Council

24/06/2026

At Monday night’s Council Meeting, I foreshadowed an alternative motion regarding Council’s Artificial Intelligence Policy.

The Council agenda clearly states that an Artificial Intelligence Policy has already been drafted, with regular updates provided along the way, and is due to be draft-ready in August.

My foreshadowed motion was as follows:

"That Council notes that an Artificial Intelligence Policy is currently in development and looks forward to a briefing of Councillors on the draft policy, including the privacy, data security, ethical use, resident protection, human oversight and implementation considerations being considered as part of that work."

To be clear, I have no issue with Council using AI where it is appropriate, responsible and governed by legislation, privacy obligations and proper policy settings.

That is exactly why this policy work is important.

My motion simply sought to acknowledge the work already underway and allow the proper process to continue, including a future Councillor briefing.

This is important work, and it should be dealt with carefully and factually.

Council is not using AI to monitor residents, and claims suggesting otherwise risk creating unnecessary concern in the community.

A clip has since been shared that cuts off before my foreshadowed motion was put forward. For transparency, I am sharing the foreshadowed motion here so residents can see the full context.

Good AI policy matters. So does accurate information.

24/06/2026

🖤💛❤️ Celebrate NAIDOC Week with us | 5 to 12 July
Join us for a series of events and activities across the City of Melton as we celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn, connect and celebrate the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
What’s on:
50 Years of Deadly Stories Panel. Hear powerful stories and perspectives from First Nations voices.
🗓 Thursday 2 July, 1pm to 2.30pm
📍 Melton Library

Indigenous Basket Weaving Workshop. Perfect for adults wanting to learn a traditional craft.
🗓 Tuesday 8 July, 5pm to 7pm
📍 Caroline Springs

Indigenous Boomerang Art Workshop. For ages 6+ to get creative and learn through art.
🗓 Tuesday 8 July, 5pm to 7pm
📍 Eynesbury

Dreamtime Storytelling with Majeda Beatty. Experience stories, song, dance and culture in an interactive session for all ages.
🗓 Friday 10 July
📍 Caroline Springs Library, 11am
📍 Melton Library, 2pm

Indigenous Community Art Workshop and Celebration. Contribute to a community mural and celebrate together.
🗓 Saturday 12 July, 1pm to 3.30pm
📍 Fraser Rise

Find out more and book. Link in comments.

23/06/2026

21/06/2026

Melbourne’s west has waited long enough.

The Let’s Get It Done campaign is simple: this is not about asking for new promises. It is about delivering the projects and services our communities have already been promised.

For Melton, that means the full delivery of the Western Rail Plan, including electrification of the Melton line, new stations at Mt Atkinson and Thornhill Park, and better connections for our growing communities.

But it is not just rail. We also need a better bus network, with more frequent, direct and accessible services across Melbourne’s west. Too many growing suburbs are still waiting for the basic public transport connections they deserve.

Our roads are congested, our trains are overcrowded, and many communities still do not have the bus services they need.

I’m proud to stand with LeadWest and councils across Melbourne’s west to say clearly:

Melbourne’s west is ready.

Let’s get it done. 🚆🚌

20/06/2026

I’m proud to represent the City of Melton and to keep fighting for the transport infrastructure our growing communities deserve.

Melbourne’s West is booming, and our rail network needs to keep pace.

Through LeadWest, Melton and Wyndham City Councils are standing together to call for the Western Rail Plan to be delivered, including electrification of the Melton and Wyndham lines, new stations and better connections across our region.

Our communities have waited long enough.

Let’s Get It Done. 🚆

19/06/2026

Have your say on the future of Strathtulloh’s active open space 🌳⚽🏏

Council is seeking community feedback on the Draft Strathtulloh Active Open Space Master Plan for the reserve on Everlasting Boulevard, Strathtulloh.

The plan sets out future sport and recreation facilities for the site, including soccer and cricket pitches, as well as opportunities for play spaces, informal recreation, access and community use.

This is your chance to help shape what this important local open space looks like for families, young people, sporting clubs and the broader Strathtulloh community.

📍 Drop-in session:
Thursday 25 June 2026
1.30pm to 4.30pm
Weir Views Community Centre, 23 Pegasus Drive, Weir Views

🗓️ Feedback closes Friday 3 July 2026

👉 View the draft plan and complete the survey here:
https://conversations.melton.vic.gov.au/strathtulloh-aos-masterplan

Local voices matter, so please take a few minutes to have your say.

19/06/2026

The next Council meeting is on Monday 22 June, and will start at 6pm.
Attend in person at Melton Civic Centre or watch online.
❔ Submit your question online: www.melton.vic.gov.au/question
📝 View the agenda: www.melton.vic.gov.au/minutes
🧍 Watch in person at Melton Civic Centre or online: https://webcast.melton.vic.gov.au/

18/06/2026

🏃‍♂️ School holiday fun is back at Cobblebank Indoor Stadium and Caroline Springs Leisure Centre with the Get Activated program. There will be a range of activities designed for kids aged 1 to 12.

The pre-school area offers an array of activities for you and your little one to get creative, climb and burn some of that winter energy away.
The primary aged area offers a more structured round-robin style event, where the kids can have a go at a whole range of sports brought to you by local clubs.

📅 Thursday 2 July, 10am -2pm at Cobblebank Indoor Stadium
📅 Tuesday 7 July, 10am -2pm at Caroline Springs Leisure Centre
🎟️ $7 per child
Bookings required: www.melton.vic.gov.au/getactivated

18/06/2026

🚧 Current and upcoming roadworks.
Keep up to date on road projects to help plan your travel, with this handy guide. These are a mix of Council, Victorian Government, Powercor, and developer projects. For more information including detours, location maps and project details: melton.vic.gov.au/roadworks

🚧 Road closures:

🔴 Chisholm Drive, Caroline Springs: Temporary lane and road closures from Wednesday 17 June until Monday 22 June 2026 for Council works to deliver four new speed humps. From Monday 29 June to Tuesday 7 July 2026 there will be an eight-day temporary closure of Chisholm Drive, near Ballarat Road, to deliver a wombat crossing behind Westsprings Central.

🔴 Kirkpatrick Boulevard will be temporarily closed between Hopkins Road and McKinley Drive from Monday 29 June to Friday 28 August 2026 for developer works to construct a roundabout. Detour via Clara Avenue and Grand Boulevard or alternate detour route via Mt Atkinson Road.

🚆 Ferris Road, Cobblebank: Ferris Road will be closed from 1am, Tuesday 23 June to 4am, Wednesday 15 July between Abey Road and Hollingsworth Drive for Victorian Government level crossing removal works. For more information please visit https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/library/level-crossing-removal-project/geelong-ballarat/melton/works/ferris-road-june-and-july-works

🔴 Banchory Avenue, Hillside: Banchory Avenue will be temporarily closed at the Melton Highway intersection until Friday 14 August, for developer works.

🚧 Lane closures:
Please allow for extra travel time or use alternative routes:

🟠 Western Freeway, High Street and Ferris Road; between High Street/Melton Highway roundabout and Abey Road, Cobblebank. Powercor works over June, July and August will see nighttime road and lane closures intermittently. For more visit https://www.powercor.com.au/network-planning-and-projects/major-projects/power-pole-and-line-upgrade-works-in-melton-south/
🟠 Smith Street, Melton: Council is installing a new raised pedestrian crossing on the south side of Smith Street and McKenzie Street intersection, Melton. The west side of Smith Street will be closed south of the intersection from Monday 29 June to Sunday 5 July, the east side closed from Monday 6 July to Thursday 9 July. On Friday 10 July, we will asphalt both sides of the crossing, closing one lane at a time. Detour via McKenzie Street, Palmerston Street and Henry Street.

🟠 Sinclairs Road: Until Friday 17 July the northbound lane of Sinclairs Road will be closed, between Normanby Boulevard and Arkbar Avenue, for developer works. Detour via Arkbar Avenue and Duffy Road. Southbound lane will flow as per normal. Heavy vehicles detoured via Taylors Road, Caroline Springs Boulevard and Neale Road.

🟠 Boundary Road, Truganina: one lane temporarily closed between Hurst Drive and Woods Road for developer works until Friday 24 July. Traffic will travel through Boundary Road via shuttle flow under the control of traffic signals.

🟢Road re-open: Melton Valley Drive, Melton has reopened

We appreciate these works can be frustrating. As a growing city we can't improve our roads and traffic movement without this sort of disruptions. We'll continue to let you know what is coming up, so you can plan accordingly.