Wyndham residents can have their say on creating jobs and finding better ways of getting around congested cities at a forum this week.
Lalor MP Joanne Ryan and fellow federal Labor MP Andrew Giles will host the forum at the Encore Events Centre on Thursday evening.
Ms Ryan said she and Mr Giles, the chairman of Labor’s Cities Taskforce, will listen to the community to assist in developing infrastructure policy.
Quoting a study by the Grattan Institute, Ms Ryan said the average income of a person who lived within 10 kilometres of the CBD was $77,000, while those living more than 20 kilometres away earned an average of $56,000.
“This highlights a growing problem with inequity across our cities,” she said, adding that the cost of commuting and childcare contributed to the discrepancy.
“I often speak to the policy experts about the time spent on the freeway in the morning, but what about the 45-minute commute we could spend on Wyndham roads before actually getting to the freeway?” Ms Ryan asked.
“How can we expect local government to come up with a solution and deal with issues like this with no funding other than rates?”
Employment will be another hot topic on the forum agenda, with Ms Ryan inviting feedback and opinions on how to create jobs in the region.
She said initiatives like Point Cook’s Biz Buddy Hub, a co-working space for micro-businesses, needed to be encouraged by the government.
She will also invite ideas on how new service industry jobs can be created, and how the region can attract new industries.
“With the right policies in place, the outer suburbs and growth corridors, including Wyndham, can be places of equity rather than disadvantage,” Ms Ryan said.
Guests at the forum, which starts at 5pm on Thursday, February 18, will be invited to ask questions and discuss issues.
