Werribee’s own private hospital, new business headquarters and housing estates are driving forces behind a record building spend across Wyndham.
New Victorian Building Authority (VBA) figures reveal building permits for projects totalling $1.7 billion were issued across the city during 2016, putting the Wyndham spend second only to the city of Melbourne.
It’s the third consecutive year Wyndham’s building works have passed the billion-dollar mark, with 2015 bringing in $1.22 billion of works, and $1.38 billion in 2014.
Last year, permits were issued for a new $43.6 million St Vincent’s Private Hospital Werribee and an aged care facility – which is currently under construction – making it the biggest investment in Wyndham last year.
The NewCold Asia-Pacific headquarters under construction at Truganina, which will store frozen food, is another big-ticket item.
Other notable permits include one to construct 55 dwellings at Point Cook, a project valued at $12.7 million, and construction of an acoustic fence at Tarneit, also valued at $12.7 million.
VBA chief executive Prue Digby said Wyndham has recorded strong growth in the value of building permits in all building use categories, with $1.17 billion in domestic building permits.
Wyndham council’s future-focused economy portfolio holder Walter Villagonzalo said it was great to see businesses setting up their company headquarters in Wyndham.
Cr Villagonzalo said he’d like the state government to pitch in more to help the council address the city’s infrastructure gap.
“We’re doing our best in council to address this growth,” he said.
