By Jaidyn Kennedy
Wyndham council’s wish list for the upcoming state government budget is in – and public transport, roads and courts are top of the agenda.
Mayor Mia Shaw said the council’s ongoing advocacy priorities include infrastructure investment, job creation, and funding for the delivery of health and essential services.
“We would like to see investment in better access to buses, especially in new estates, and a number of new rail stations, major road upgrades and delivery of the Western Freight intermodal Terminal,“ Cr Shaw said.
She said council would also like to see continued funding commitments for the East Werribee Employment Precinct.
“Wyndham’s population is set to grow to close to 500,000 people by 2040,” Cr Shaw said
“So, the council remains committed to working closely with all levels of government to deliver on projects that support local jobs, build better transport connections and deliver vital infrastructure for our growing community.”
The yet-to-be-opened Wyndham Law Courts are also on council’s radar in the coming year.
“We are also eager to understand the funding arrangements to enact the new law courts,” Cr Shaw said.
The opening of the $270 million dollar precinct, which was set for March this year, has been delayed due to funding being deferred away from it in last year’s state budget.
As present the region is still dependent on the much smaller Werribee Magistrate’s Court.
Cr Shaw said the prioritisation of community centres, outdoors spaces and libraries was to cater to the needs of the area’s youth– many of whom are not native English speakers.
“Wyndham is a young and diverse community. The 2021 Census found that 21 per cent of the population was aged 11 years or younger, with 48 per cent of the population born overseas,“ she said.
“A total of 49.8 per cent of residents speak a language other than English as their first language.“
The state budget will be handed down on Tuesday, May 20.
