THE Werribee Employment Precinct will be a “more sophisticated” version of the Monash Technology Precinct, says the head of the Growth Areas Authority.
The authority is preparing a master plan for the 925-hectare site between Werribee and Point Cook.
Chief executive Peter Seamer told the Weekly that the site could be home to a range of high-tech industries, similar to those already based along Hoppers Lane and Sneydes Road.
Mr Seamer said the Monash Technology Precinct, which created 70,000 jobs and took about 50 years to develop, would be used as a basis for the Werribee precinct.
He said it would take 30-40 years to fully develop the area, but it would provide a chance for people to work outside the city.
“The employment precinct is going to change Melbourne,” Mr Seamer said.
“It is going to be the solution to a lot of employment issues, especially in Werribee itself.”
Planning Minister Matthew Guy said the government was committed to developing the precinct and had asked the authority to develop the master plan because it would come up with the best plan quickly.
Mr Guy said the precinct was an ideal location to attract companies because it was between two airports and had access to a standard-gauge railway to South Australia.
“The employment precinct is going to be a key issue for the western suburbs and [for] creating a polycentric city,” Mr Guy said. “The Werribee Employment Precinct is the really big issue for us. We see it being a broader commercial industry precinct.”
The Growth Areas Authority hopes to release its plans for public consultation by Christmas.
Committee for Wyndham executive director Nik Tsardakis said it was the first time anyone had set a definite date for the next stage in the project.
“[The WEP] appears to have got the sanction of the minister and the Premier which we didn’t have to this point. We are excited about what is happening.”
Mr Tsardakis said he agreed with the GAA vision for the area. But he hoped it would address key infrastructure issues such as drainage problems and road networks before developing the precinct.
