Cade Lucas
Almost $180 million worth of infrastructure funding is headed for Wyndham after the latest round of Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) funding was announced by the state government on Wednesday.
Funded by contributions from developers buying and developing land in Melbourne’s growth suburbs, the GAIC fund awarded Wyndham more than $112 million for community infrastructure projects and $65 million for public transport projects.
Bus services were an especially big winner, with more than $60 million allocated for new routes and services across the municipality, with $39,732,000 for a new fixed route service in Tarneit and $21,473,000 for a new connection between Harpley and Cornerstone estate’s and Wyndham Vale Station.
More than half of the funding allocated towards building community infrastructure will go towards the Ison Road overpass which will receive $60 million for a road link.
Almost $30 million has been provided to purchase the site of a proposed new government school in Wollahara, while $14 million will pay for land acquisition and construction of new SES facilities in Tarneit and Wyndham Vale.
Wyndham Vale will also receive a new Ambulance Victoria branch, with the project awarded nearly $8 million.
With more than two-thirds of Wyndham’s GAIC funding going to projects within his electorate, Werribee MP and state treasurer Tim Pallas, was understandably pleased with the announcement.
“Werribee will soon be home to a new school, more emergency services, better transport connections thanks to our government’s nearly $130 million investment in our growing community,” Mr Pallas said.
The investment in buses has been welcomed by public transport advocates such as Sustainable Cities who’ve been calling for improved connectivity and frequency in Wyndham through their Better Buses for the West campaign.
However, Sustainable Cities spokesperson Adam Bain said it needed to be the start not the end of improvements.
“While this is good news for communities in those areas, It is vital that the government doesn’t lose focus from delivering the bus plan, announced almost 3 years ago,” Mr Bain said.
“Established residential areas are not eligible for GAIC funding, yet still require service and route upgrades after decades of underfunding and inaction. We cannot let the west fall behind.”
