Cr Kamal Bhagat

This is my first opportunity to speak with you through Mitcham Community News in 2026.

As a nation, we have just commemorated Anzac Day not too long ago and this year I had the great honour to represent our Mayor Heather Holmes-Ross at the Repat Health Precinct in Daw Park. It was a moment to reflect and thank the Australians and New Zealanders who served in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations, especially those who never returned home. The Anzac morning service was held in the Repat Memorial Chapel and I had the privilege to meet some of our older veterans and community leaders.

Work on the Winston Avenue and Caulfield Avenue intersection safety upgrade is progressing well. Before the last State election, I attended a community meeting where residents called for action after a high number of accidents at the intersection. The City of Mitcham secured funding through the Australian Government’s Black Spot Funding Program. Following concerns raised with me, contractors have installed safety measures on Ormond Avenue, Daw Park. Slow points have been added at both ends, near Goodwood Road and Winston Avenue, so only one vehicle can pass at a time. Truck movements on Ormond Avenue are also being restricted, particularly for heavy vehicles travelling to Foodland, with no-truck signs to apply during busy hours. After a trial and community feedback, speed limits in Melrose Park, Clarence Gardens, Pasadena and St Marys will permanently be reduced from 50 km/h to 40 km/h. Council is waiting for approval from the Department of Infrastructure and Transport before installing the new signs. Major roads and bus routes, including Edward Street, Winston Avenue, Daws Road and Cashel Street, are distributor roads and will keep their current speed limits. To improve fairness, especially for residents, three-hour parking is now in place on Rockville Avenue near the Repat Health Precinct and ACH Group.

The City of Mitcham is also preparing an Urban Design Framework to guide future improvements along Winston Avenue. The aim is to make the area more vibrant and appealing. Council is inviting residents, business owners and property owners to share their ideas. Community consultation will take place I June and I encourage you to be involved. Feedback so far has included requests for more shops, more street greening and more pedestrian crossings. Residents have told me it can be very difficult to cross at the Winston Avenue and Richmond Avenue roundabout during peak times. To help address this, Council has recently agreed to build a new pedestrian refuge at the intersection.

Many of you will have noticed progress on two major developments in Overton Ward. The four-storey project at 394 Goodwood Road, Cumberland Park, is expected to be completed in late October or early November. Once finished, it will deliver a new medical centre, childcare centre and supported accommodation for the local community. Nearby on Cross Road, Stage 2 of Cabra Dominican College’s Master Plan is also underway and is expected to be completed before the end of the year.

This article may contain personal views or opinions held by individual Council Members, and may not necessarily represent the formal position of the Council