By Kirsty Ross
DIVERSITY is the one word that describes Hobsons Bay, according to Victorian Premier Steve Bracks.
Speaking after last week’s State Community Cabinet meeting in Hobsons Bay, Mr Bracks described the municipality as an engine room for the state’s manufacturing sector.
He said the area has significant distribution industries and a diversity of people and business.
“Almost 30 per cent of residents are born overseas,” Mr Bracks said.
“It’s strong on construction, property and business services, the petrochemical industry, of course, and wholesale transport.”
The Williamstown MP said the broad range of businesses provided around 27,000 jobs in Victoria.
“It’s an engine room for growth and industry and development.”
The Premier and his ministers conducted their 59th Community Cabinet as guests of the Hobsons Bay City Council on Monday 7 November.
Community members lodged about 69 submissions for discussion on a broad range of topics.
Ministers visited local businesses and community centres, including the Westgate Migrant Resource Centre in Altona and Spotswood’s Emma McLean Kindergarten and Daycare Centre.
Hobsons Bay mayor Renee Caruana hailed the visit a success and a great opportunity to show the government council’s achievements.
On the brag list were the council’s traffic management plans, meals programs, facilities renewal program, Access for All Abilities Program and Disability Action Plan.
The council also raised concerns, including the need for urgent arterial road upgrades, improvements to the West Gate Bridge bottlenecks and better public transport.
“I don’t necessarily think duplication is the solution,” Mr Bracks said of one suggestion to ease traffic on the West Gate Bridge. He said this could lead to bottlenecks in other areas, and alternative routes should be explored.
Mr Bracks announced the government would release the long-awaited Inner West Integrated Transport Study by April next year.
He said the council had congratulated his cabinet for passing legislation to confiscate cars in an effort to curb hoons at Williamstown and Altona beaches.
He said the legislation would be in place by 1 July 2006.
“It will alleviate some of the problems we are having currently…in which there are some young people, groups of young people who see that as a way of trying to have a drag strip,” he said.
“We’d prefer those to occur on registered and accredited motor ways and drag strips rather than on streets.”
