WYNDHAM residents have slammed the announcement of a new housing estate in Wyndham Vale that will see 4000 new homes added to the already booming population.
Lend Lease announced last week they would be developing the $1.3 billion, 438 hectare sight that will include four schools, sport and recreation facilities and a neighbourhood shopping centre.
Bordered by Bulban, Black Forest and McGrath Roads, the “urban community” will be delivered over 10 years, with the first sales expected to be in 2012.
Wyndham Mayor, Councillor John Menegazzo, welcomed the announcement.
“I think it’s a major coup because Delfin (Lend Lease) as you probably well know is what I would consider one of the better developers in Victoria,” Cr Menegazzo said.
“Having them looking at establishing an estate out in Werribee West is good news.”
But Brian Werner from the Heathdale Neighbourhood Association said Werribee was already struggling with substandard infrastructure.
“I think it’s going to have a very big impact on public transport and our roads,” Mr Werner said.
“I don’t know where they are going to put all the new cars.”
Mr Werner, who has lived in the area for 40 years and drives buses part time, said during peak times driving in Wyndham can be a nightmare.
“I know from driving buses that in the morning the traffic is often at an absolute standstill,” he said.
“I waited at the Werribee/Cottrell St intersection for a quarter of an hour the other day.”
The news comes just days after Wyndham was named the fastest growing area in Australia, with more than 12,000 people moving here last year.
Traffic in Wyndham has also been in the headlines recently with a Wyndham Council report on traffic volumes showing that 14 roads are currently running at or above capacity.
Long time Werribee resident, Lori Mclean said something needed to be done to halt population growth.
“We’ve got nothing for the people out here already, they’ve just got to stop the growth,” Ms Mclean said.
“It’s simple, just stop it by saying no to all these developers.”
But Wyndham Mayor, Councillor John Menegazzo, said you could not stop people from coming to the area.
“You’re going to have this constant problem of people saying ’put the shutters up’, but the simple fact of the matter is you can’t put the shutters up,” he said.
“It’s a matter of advocating and planning properly so we don’t have these problems going forward.”
