WYNDHAM Council has presented a wish list of infrastructure projects it wants fast-tracked under a new state government agreement with the housing industry.
As part of a $7 million spend across Melbourne, $900,000 was last week earmarked from the Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution fund to upgrade bus facilities and car parking at the Wyndham Events, Aquatic and Leisure Centre.
Mr Guy spruiked that “works-in-kind” arrangements allowed new public infrastructure to be provided sooner to growth areas.
The policy, introduced last year, allows developers to provide new roads, infrastructure or public facilities instead of cash contributions to the government when building in growth areas.
“Changes implemented by the Victorian Coalition government last year have enabled us to fast-track investment in much-needed infrastructure in the Wyndham growth area,” Mr Guy said.
“This project will significantly enhance the local community and increase capacity to cater for existing and future growth area residents.”
Wyndham’s acting chief executive Bill Forrest said the council had made clear a list of infrastructure projects it wanted as short-term priorities for the city.
These included full diamond freeway interchanges at Sneydes Road in Point Cook, and at Duncans Road in Werribee South, as well as an extension of Armstrong Road, including an overpass of the rail line, to join with the freeway. Longer-term priorities included additional rail stations on the suburban Werribee line and Regional Rail Link.
“Wyndham City looks forward to a collaborative approach with the state government to determine priorities for Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution works-in-kind and, to date, this has been occurring,” Mr Forrest said.
Tarneit Labor MP Tim Pallas said the funding for transport facilities at the Derrimut Road centre was a “drop in the ocean” in terms of the investment needed in Wyndham.
“As one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Victoria, Wyndham has been short-changed,” he said.
“While I do not begrudge multimillion-dollar investments in municipalities such as Hume, Wyndham requires substantially more than the $900,000 from the GAIC to be fast-tracked for strategic community infrastructure projects.”
