By Jaidyn Kennedy
Werribee was a safe Labor seat for more than four decades; a cornerstone of Labor’s traditional heartland in Melbourne – until it wasn’t.
While Labor retained the seat in the February 8 by-election, the swing against the party was palpable from Spring Street to the You Yangs.
Mayor Mia Shaw said the election result showed said, loudly and unequivocally, that residents want more investment from the state government.
She said the area needs improved road upgrades, better bus connectivity and new train stations to alleviate commute times residents face.
“What we continue to ask for are not the nice to haves, but essential infrastructure and services that we need and deserve,“ she said.
Former Wyndham councillor and long-term Werribee resident Heather Marcus said she observed voters who were disaffected.
“[The candidates] really didn’t have solutions as to how they would fix issues such as traffic congestion and crime,” she said.
“They think it’s all talk and no action.“
Ms Marcus deemed improving the area’s arterial roads, such as Ballan Road, Sayers Road and Heaths Road, as an urgent priority for the state government
“I think that is the main issue because the infrastructure is not in place when [residents] move into their new homes, and we’re not catching up,” she said.
“It’s our major roads, that’s our issue – they are at capacity and can’t cope.“
Ms Marcus also said that youth crime needs to be addressed through better rehabilitation programs.
Down the highway, Little River Action Group (LRAG) president Adrian Hamilton said the town feels forgotten by the state government.
Improved community consultation on infrastructural developments that may impact the character of the town was flagged as an ongoing concern.
“Everything gets pushed here because we are a peripheral territory, so they think it’s easy to push them (Little River) away and not provide (adequate) representation,” Mr Hamilton said.
Wyndham residents will return to the polls in May for the federal election.
