By Esther Lauaki
The state government is injecting $250,000 to boost Victoria University’s programs in Werribee.
Last week’s announcement came a week after the government withdrew its support for the Australian Education City’s $30 billion proposal to build a hi-tech super city in the East Werribee Employment Precinct.
Priority precincts minister Gavin Jennings said the government was “excited to join with Victoria University to explore options for the campus”.
“The East Werribee Employment Precinct is an important part of the plan to develop Werribee as a modern technology hub for Victoria, and Victoria University is an ideal partner in boosting local industry in the region,” Mr Jennings said.
He said that the state government and Victoria University had a long history of collaboration in Melbourne’s west.
Victoria University vice-chancellor Peter Dawkins the collaboration would improve local industry, hone skills and create jobs.
“Work has already begun, it will position Werribee as a national employment and innovation centre in strategic industries such as construction, transport and logistics, as well as health and community services,” he said.
Committee for Wyndham chairman Peter Mayall said the boost was a positive move forward.
He said residents were most concerned that plans for the East Werribee Employment Precinct site would include more housing development.
“Currently in East Werribee we have three universities and a TAFE campus, a public and private hospital and a private medical centre,” Mr Mayall said.
“We do not want the land to become residential housing which will just increase the issues we have with residents having to use valuable time sitting in traffic jams or standing on crowded trains.”
In contrast, Point Cook resident Abhi Garg told
Star Weekly he was relieved to see the project scrapped.
“I am glad that the state government
has made a rational decision to cancel
the project, which seemed to be a shadowy proposal with lots of promises but very little detail on what would actually be built,” Mr Garg said.
