Fatima Halloum
Residents in Wyndham may be missing out on access to benefits those living in inner Melbourne receive, a new report has found.
The Benchmarking report found that while the CBD and inner suburbs have easy access to sporting events, adequate public transport services and reliable internet, people living in greater Melbourne don’t enjoy the same benefits.
The report assesses Melbourne against a group of 20 cities and provides an analysis of what areas require greater attention.
Social worker Glen Cooper said more investment is imperative in making Wyndham feel like a liveable community.
“Out here in Werribee and Wyndham it’s really just about houses as far as the eye can see. Just to tick a box, you plot in a Kmart and Coles and they think that’s enough to call it a community but it’s not.”
Mr Cooper said although public transport is accessible for some, there’s a clear lack of investment in eco-friendly transport.
“I’ve recently purchased a bike, if I wanna go from my house and go get a few things from Coles, there’s nowhere safe for me to put it, so that forces me to go in the car.”
The report revealed Melbourne to be the world’s sixth most unaffordable English-speaking metropolis for buying a home.
Mr Cooper said increasing real estate prices drives people away from inner Melbourne.
“Altona went from affordable to you need a million dollars to buy a house. Then you come to Werribee and Werribee is nice, but then all of a sudden you need a million dollars to buy a house,” Mr Cooper said.
“You almost feel you get squeezed further and further out. I feel like I have a few more years here and then suddenly I might be pushed out to Manor Lakes or Tarneit. I’m going to places where, because there’s no investment, I don’t want to live.”
