A Wyndham councillor fears a plan to limit residential growth will earn Wyndham a reputation as an anti-growth city.
Harrison ward’s Cr Intaj Khan told last week’s council meeting
that he would not support plans to oppose precinct structure plans
(PSPs) that didn’t include adequate road and infrastructure provisions.
His comments came as his fellow councillors voted against a new PSP for Truganina that would have allowed 9500 houses to be built between Leakes and Boundary roads.
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Councillors said the plan would not be approved until the Growth
Areas Authority developed a strategy to ensure future housing lots were
released in a logical sequence, necessary roads were developed in a
timely manner and that the area would provide diverse housing options.
But Cr Khan voted in favour of the PSP, saying he was worried that refusing it would deter investors from coming to Wyndham.
“This PSP is important. People want to invest here, and I think
everyone should have the chance to move here and invest in businesses,”
he said. “We don’t want to say no to growth. We don’t want to be known
as an anti-growth council.”
Last week’s meeting was not the first time Cr Khan has refused to support the council’s plan to slow down the city’s growth.
In May, he voted against a recommendation to prevent the council’s
planning scheme from being amended to include precinct structure plans
for Ballan Road and Westbrook until necessary infrastructure was put in
place. He said that Wyndham needed more growth so people could buy land
and build their dream home.
At last week’s meeting other councillors told Cr Khan they weren’t
against growth, they just wanted infrastructure to keep pace with
housing developments.
Cr Glenn Goodfellow said he wanted to ensure the city was
developed properly so his children didn’t have to deal with the same
congestion and infrastructure problems.
“It is not about saying Wyndham is anti-growth, it is about getting it right,” he said.
“It is our duty as councillors to make sure we get it right from
the start and not just approve PSPs and worry about the consequences
later.”
