Community Cabinet: New suburb name

Wyndham’s newest suburb will be called East Werribee until a more “imaginative and exciting” name can be found.

The suburb, which will include more than 7000 houses and the long-awaited Werribee Employment Precinct, was given the green light by the state government on Monday.

Launching the suburb’s precinct structure plan, Planning Minister Matthew Guy said the area – which borders Sneydes Road, the Princes Highway and Hoppers Lane – would be called East Werribee.

But Premier Denis Napthine has asked Mr Guy to reconsider the name.

“I think East Werribee describes the area well, but perhaps we could use a bit more innovation and imagination,” he said.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? What would be a good name for the suburb? Post a comment below.

The government announced a naming competition for the suburb in November last year, with East Werribee among the names suggested by Wyndham council and the community. The Weekly understands other names considered included Archer, after the horse who won the first and second Melbourne cups.

Mayor Heather Marcus attended the launch but refused to answer questions about the suburb’s name. The council has previously written to the government and the Growth Areas Authority requesting that Werribee be included in the new suburb’s name.

East Werribee, which was announced by the government in November last year, will create more than 58,000 jobs and be one of six national employment clusters.

As part of the development, $72 million will be spent on a freeway diamond interchange at Sneydes Road, with upgrades to arterial roads and the intersection of Hoppers Lane and the Princes Freeway.

Mr Guy said the freeway interchange would be built in the next two years and would be finished before residents moved in.

COMMUNITY CABINET: OUR COVERAGE

Picture gallery

Roads take centre stage

Healthy lifestyle push

New suburb name

Housing crisis plea

Skate park art