Tarneit has experienced the biggest population growth in Australia in the past decade.
The Wyndham suburb’s population increased by a massive 372 per cent between June 30, 2006, and June 30 last year, according to an Australian Bureau of Statistics report published last month. That took Tarneit from 7740 residents in 2006 to 36,532 last year.
Barry Plant Tarneit senior sales professional Petar Krnjeta said one reason for Tarneit’s growing popularity was it’s affordability.
He said historically, Tarneit’s median house price – which stands at $520,000 – meant home buyers could purchase an “affordable” property within both 26 kilometres of Melbourne’s CBD and within 30 kilometres of Geelong.
“On every corner, there is also a kindergarten, doctor, shopping centre – supply does meet demand in Tarneit and there are great resources here,” Mr Krnjeta said.
Wyndham city economy, innovation and liveability director Kate Roffey said rapid suburban growth brought “significant challenges”.
She said the council’s last budget had $133 million allocated to capital works including many projects in the Tarneit area. Ms Roffey said the council recognised the investment the state and federal governments were making in Wyndham, but that “a lot more support” was needed for public transport, greater road capacity, schools and health services.
Star Weekly last week used Facebook to ask Tarneit residents what facilities they thought were needed in the area. Traffic congestion, public transport and policing were popular items.
The most popular responses included:
• A bridge to be built between Hogans Road and Wyndham Vale;
• Major roads such as Tarneit, Leakes, Derrimut, Sayers and Ballan roads to be widened to cope with congestion; and
• The Tarneit West train station to be built.
Several people said the Tarneit railway station urgently needed more carparks.
Stephanie wrote: “Every day people have to park on the dirt or footpaths or anywhere they can jam a car in.”
Leanne commented: “Is there ever going to be another way to get from Tarneit/Hogans Rd to Wyndham Vale/ Manor Lakes? The traffic is shocking.”
Other residents said they would like to see a new police station or more officers patrolling Tarneit, additional schools, activities for youth, improved bus services, a more reliable internet service and increased job opportunities.
Last year, the state government announced a $1.8 billion roads package for the west – due to be finished by 2023 – including duplicating Derrimut Road between Sayers and Dohertys roads, and duplicating Leakes Road between Fitzgerald and Derrimut roads.
