By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM has come out as one of the big winners in Victoria’s State Budget, with almost $90 million committed to different projects in the municipality.
A series of pre-budget announcements all but confirmed that Wyndham was in for a bumper budget, and even opposite sides of politics seemed to agree that the fastest growing municipality in Victoria had done the best, receiving almost 70 per cent of the funding given to the entire West.
More than $30 million was assigned to upgrade transport infrastructure to prepare the East Werribee Employment Precinct for the future.
The works will include a full diamond interchange on Sneydes Rd.
Werribee Mercy Hospital also received $34 million in funding to build a new 54 bed acute mental health facility, representing the largest ever funding boost for mental health services in Melbourne’s West.
A further $21.5 million was put aside to build two new schools in Wyndham, a primary school in Wyndham Vale South and a P-9 school in Truganina.
Mercy Health Chief Executive Officer, Adjunct Professor Stephen Cornelissen, welcomed the new funding for Werribee Mercy Hospital.
“This funding will result in a larger inpatient service which will have a profound impact on the care we give to the south western communities of Melbourne,” Prof Cornelissen said.
An approximate timeline of the construction of the new project indicated that planning and development would start in the coming weeks, construction would begin in about 12 months and phase one would be operational by 2016.
Wyndham Mayor Heather Marcus said she was delighted that Wyndham had received the lions share of funding in the West, but more work was needed to help the municipality keep up with the rapid growth in population.
“The State Government’s decision to start the East-West Link in the eastern suburbs is a slap in the face for frustrated Wyndham motorists,” Cr Marcus said.
“WestLink will provide a second major road access route from the western suburbs to the Port of Melbourne and Melbourne CBD via Dynon Rd and Footscray Rd. Wyndham City believes WestLink should have been given top priority by the Government and Tuesday’s announcement will only strengthen our resolve.”
Cr Marcus said urgent funding was still required to upgrade a growing number of arterial roads in Wyndham.
“The State Government must establish a community infrastructure fund for growth areas, similar to the fund already in place for regional Victoria. If this was to occur, the council would immediately seek $10 million each for redevelopments of the Wyndham Leisure and Events Centre and the Werribee Sports and Fitness Centre, two projects which are critical to Wyndham’s future,” she said.
