By ALESHA CAPONE
A PLAN to boost jobs in the West includes proposals to develop a business case for government investment in Sunshine, promote investment in the Brooklyn-Tottenham Industrial Precinct and lift the performance of schools.
The Western Melbourne Regional Development Australia Committee and LeadWest recently released the ’Jobs and Industry Strategy for Melbourne’s West (JISMW)’ covering the areas of Brimbank, Maribyrnong, Melton, Moonee Valley, Hobsons Bay and Wyndham.
The document sets out a ‘three horizon’ strategy to “fully capitalise on the economic development opportunities open to the West”.
The plan said by 2046, up to 13 per cent of metropolitan Melbourne’s total employment growth will be in the West.
The plan’s first horizon will be to reinforce the West’s existing industrial base and prepare for new business, through delivering the East Werribee Employment Precinct as a market ready investment and promoting investment in the Brooklyn-Tottenham Industrial Precinct.
Another strategy will be to “lift perception and performance of primary and secondary education in the West”.
The JISMW said convening a working group of government schools in the West and tertiary providers would help “determine ways of securing assured or better scholastic outcomes from identified high achieving local students”.
The plan’s second horizon will be to build new exports and capitalise on State and Federal Government investments in the West.
The third stage will be integrating the business markets of western and central Melbourne, through a variety of ways, such as marketing ’industry clusters’ which already exist in the region – like aerospace, food manufacturing, health services and education exporters.
The JISMW said the air and space transport sector presently earned the West more than $100 million in export sales each year.
The strategy also said Brimbank City Council and other groups should develop a business case for government investment in Sunshine, similar to central Dandenong.
Western Metropolitan MP Bernie Finn said the State Government supported the work of the Western Melbourne Regional Development Australia committee.
“We are committed to working with business both across Victoria and in the western Melbourne region through our network of Government Business Offices,” he said.
