40 years ago
February 19, 1975
A public meeting of property owners and the community has given the green light to the state government’s Urban Renewal Authority for a study into redeveloping an area bounded by Watton, Wedge, McDonald, Anderson and Bridge streets, as part of a plan to expand Werribee’s central shopping district. The Authority’s chairman, Harry Parsons, told the meeting landowners could rest assured their properties would not be compulsorily acquired, while Werribee councillor Neville Hudson said any redevelopment required the approval of the council and the state government.
30 years ago
February 20, 1985
Werribee Hospital management is planning to make a submission to the state’s Health Commission calling for a major upgrade, including ward and x-ray facilities, an extension to its casualty department and remodelled operating theatres. Hospital manager John Williams said this was a last-ditch attempt to get the government to listen. “The hospital is hopelessly inadequate now and the situation will become even worse as the area’s population grows.” Mr Williams said the lack of investment in the Synnot Street hospital had reached a critical stage – it was now serving a population of 47,000.
20 years ago
February 15, 1995
Wyndham council announced it would need to cut 26 jobs by the end of June to make up the $1.1 million surplus flagged in its recent mini-budget. The council’s director of engineering services, Ian Robins, told The Banner that, as a result of the cuts, residents could expect an overall drop in their rates next year. Spending for a number of council projects, including the Derrimut Road underpass and a performing arts centre, were not included in the mini-budget, but Mr Robins said the council’s commissioners were committed to these projects.
10 years ago
February 16, 2005
The row over the relocation of Melbourne’s wholesale markets has continued with a report naming Werribee as the best option described by Whittlesea mayor Sam Alessi as “flawed and erroneous”. Cr Alessi, who is lobbying for Epping to be the new market site, said the report contained mistruths, including estimated distances from both regions to the Melbourne CBD and the cost of land figures. The markets will move from Footscray Road near the city as part of the state government’s port expansion plan. Fruit and vegetable king Frank Costa is among those to back the Werribee option.
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