GROWTH in Wyndham should be slowed to about 8400 new residents a year, according to a council strategy aimed at managing infrastructure problems.
On Monday, councillors adopted a draft growth strategy compiled by advocacy director Bill Forrest following an online survey of residents.
Thirty-seven people completed the survey, which asked five questions about the way Wyndham was developing.
Mr Forrest’s report said the council needed to advocate the benefits of slowing growth in the city to 3000 homes, or 8400 people a year, to allow infrastructure to be provided at the time of growth.
He said a slow-down would mean the city’s population would increase by about 5per cent annually. In the past year, Wyndham’s population increased 8per cent.
Mr Forrest said the council needed to pressure the state and federal governments to address infrastructure backlogs and create local job opportunities to limit the number of people leaving the municipality for work.
Residents who completed the survey called on the council to stop growth until roads and public transport could cope with the current population.
Figures presented to the meeting as part of the draft strategy revealed Wyndham had capacity for at least another 33,000 houses.
Resident Christine Morris said a new train line was needed before there was any more growth, while Kate McClusky said urban sprawl was putting increased pressure on the city’s roads. In its submission to the online survey, Emmanuel College in Point Cook called for services such as childcare facilities and police numbers to be developed before more housing was built.
Cr Shane Bourke said it was clear residents wanted governments to help the council to fund more infrastructure. “It is clear the cost [of growth] is outweighing the benefits. Arterial roads duplication is hopelessly backlogged, bus services are woefully inadequate, provision of schools and future stages of schools are way behind schedule. Jobs and economic growth have been slower than population growth since around 2008.”
The strategy follows the launch of a Property Council of Australia campaign asking
people to speak out about their city’s needs.
Council chief executive Kerry Thompson said the ‘Make My City Work’ campaign, which asked residents how housing, jobs, infrastructure and lifestyle could be improved, was a great way for residents to have their views heard by governments.
Details: wyndham.vic.gov.au.
