Transport, health, education and employment needs top a Wyndham council wishlist for next month’s state budget.
Treasurer and Werribee MP Tim Pallas will hand down Labor’s first budget on May 5 and the council is hoping it will include funding for much-needed projects in Wyndham.
Included on the wishlist is $60million for upgrades to Dohertys Road, Laverton North; extra commuter parking at Werribee train station; land acquisition for a diamond interchange at Duncans Road; and continued support for the Healthy Together Wyndham program, which tackles obesity and diabetes.
The council is also calling for funding to develop the East Werribee Employment Precinct and a justice precinct, $5million for crisis accommodation for people facing homelessness, and $2.5million to redevelop Chirnside Park.
Advocacy director Bill Forrest said the city needed urgent funding.
“There is a long list of projects that require the attention of state and federal governments to ensure the timely provision of infrastructure to support the rapid residential growth in Wyndham,” he said.
“This growth is a result of federal and state government plans and policies.
“It’s unrelenting and needs to be matched by a determined effort by state and federal governments to address transport, health, education, recreation and employment needs in growth areas in a timely manner.”
As reported by Star Weekly, the council also wants $3million to build a transit lane on Palmers Road at Point Cook, from Dunnings Road to Williams Landing station.
The transit lane would operate on weekdays from 6.30am to 9.30am for buses and cars with two or more passengers, including a driver, with indented bays provided at bus stops abutting the lane.
The council will contribute $3million towards the project, including $100,000 from its Get Wyndham Moving campaign, to ensure safe pedestrian access from Point Cook to Williams Landing railway station.
