Plans for 18,000 residents get nod

WYNDHAM Council has given conditional support for two plans which will boost the population in the municipality’s west, even though it rejected one of them last September.

Sustainable development director Dean Rochfort recommended the council support precinct structure plans for Black Forest Road South and Alfred Road, as long as the Growth Areas Authority addressed concerns about traffic, location of facilities and infrastructure delivery.

As reported by the Weekly, the council knocked back the $1 billion Black Forest Road development in September, saying it was fearful the development would increase traffic problems. If approved, the development would accommodate almost 15,000 residents. The Alfred Road plan would add 3100 residents.

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The council wants the GAA to link the developments with a transport strategy being developed. It also wants the GAA to commit to widening the Werribee Street crossing once 500 lots have been released. Mr Rochfort said the strategy would match urban growth to infrastructure development.

“This is being developed in response to the overloading of the road network which has been experienced since 2005, and concern about the impact of major additional population growth on the existing transport network without infrastructure upgrades.”

Mr Rochfort said the GAA and the council still had issues to work through but was hopeful its concerns would be addressed.

A further report on the developments will be presented to the council when it meets on March 25.

The GAA will consider issues raised during the community consultation process before finalising the plans.