The new year brings a new office space for Borderlands and an especially big project: The People’s Plan for Footscray.
It seems paradoxical that in a political era where democracy seems at a loss, that so much is being written about how empowering ordinary people as citizens offers real leverage against structural issues like economic inequality and insecurity, climate change, public health crises, and social breakdown. Understandably we are all looking for a way out of the mess we’re in. But how do we get institutions and systems to treat people as creative agents rather than consumers? These institutions manifest power, a power that seems hell bent on accumulation regardless of social and ecological cost, and that is concentrated in an ever smaller corporate and financial elite.
Is it possible to develop movements and spaces that manifest a counter-power, or at least point in the direction of its possibility? How do we go beyond doing ‘what we can’ in isolated pockets of resistance? How do we unify and amplify community voices? How do we rebuild the public realm but not in the image of its current corporate masters?
Borderlands is very excited about leading The People’s Plan for Footscray, and thankful for the support given by Greater Melbourne Foundation, and the partnership with Angliss Neighbourhood House and South Sudan Child First Education.
We hope The People’s Plan for Footscray can provide something of an example of communities innovating from the ground up, showing the power of cooperative, creative and organised grassroots action.
People’s Plan for Footscray
Borderlands Cooperative, in partnership with Angliss Neighbourhood House & South Sudan Child First Education.
The People’s Plan for Footscray is about bringing people back into public decision-making: going beyond token government consultation and building an example of how organised communities working together can build skills and capacities and public power, to make change.
The People’s Plan for Footscray will develop a platform and practice to advocate for and help activate democratisation in public decision making, and build community capacity and institutions that will sustain popular power.
Maribyrnong Council program making Footscray less safe
New research undertaken by Footscray Community Response, a grassroots organisation opposed to punitive and policing solutions to problems of safety and so-called ‘antisocial behaviour’, shows that Maribyrnong Council’s security patrols program is making Footscray residents less safe and involves serious breaches of human rights and anti-discrimination laws.
New hospital a win for the west … But what’s next for the old Hospital site?!?
Residents individually and collectively through Reimagining Old Footscray Hospital Community Group have been talking about the potential of the current Gordon / Eleanor Street Footscray Hospital Site for years – visioning a future precinct and seeking to engage meaningfully with the State and Local Government landowners on the vision and masterplan for this important publicly purchased and owned site.
Angliss Neighbourhood House Open Day
Pop in and enjoy a free halal sausage sizzle and check out all the ways you can get involved here at Angliss Neighbourhood House. Bring a friend, bring your neighbour, get to know other locals in a fun, friendly and welcoming space! We are a community-run neighbourhood house in the heart of Footscray, and our goal is to help foster a connected, healthy and caring neighbourhood!
Lowering the flags January 26
On January 26 (2026), Maribyrnong City Council lowered the flags …
From Maribyrnong Council’s website:
“While 26 January is considered a national holiday, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples it marks the start of ongoing colonisation of people and land – with significant negative impacts to health, education, employment and justice, including the tragic and ongoing removal of children.”
What’s happening at Braybrook & Maidstone Neighbourhood House
Braybrook & Maidstone Neighbourhood House is gearing up for the new year. Heading into the new year BMNH is excited to introduce a range of new and expanded programs designed to support, connect, and inspire the community.
Summer in the Footscray Community Garden & Learning Place
We have a really good seed raising system going now, and a great group of regulars helping out. Our upcoming Open Sessions are a great time to come and have a cuppa, buy some seedlings, meet other community members, learn from our volunteers, and (if you fancy) help with planting.
Language in Community Festival March 2026
Celebrating language diversity in the West of Naarm Melbourne
Saturday 14th March 2026, 11AM – 3PM. Seelaf Square, 1 Secomb Place, Footscray.
Language links communities, enhancing our connections to the people and places around us. So let’s celebrate them! Uniting language communities, artists, educators, advocates and families from across Naarm Melbourne, the festival will be a day of performances and activities dedicated to celebrating language diversity and supporting its continuity from generation to generation. All language communities are invited to join us for a day of song, dance and language sharing.
Borderlands Strategic Review
Borderlands is engaging in a strategic review …
Borderlands was established in 1997: that’s a long time to be part of change-making and surviving decades of neoliberal destruction of socio-economic and cultural infrastructure. The time has come for Borderlands to step into a new phase, in a new time, where the urgency of social and environmental justice could not be more stark nor the necessity of regenerating community solidarity and action more pressing.