By Denise Deason
THE rapid explosion in population, transport and employment are the main issues raised by the Wyndham City Council in their submission to the State Government’s 2030 planning strategy.
Melbourne 2030 is a plan for sustainable growth in metropolitan Melbourne and the surrounding region.
The council’s submission asks for several measures to be taken, including:
· Recognition of the massive tidal change in which the population growth in the west and north of Melbourne has overtaken growth in the south and east since 2004, for the first time in Melbourne’s history. Wyndham’s average annual growth rate has been 5.9 per cent since 2001;
· A major increase in infrastructure and services to support the West’s growth communities, which are concentrated in Melton and Wyndham;
· Additional bus and rail services to provide public transport for Wyndham’s 35 per cent population growth since 2002 in order to meet the strategy’s aim to provide better transport links;
· The State Government to endorse an employment and industrial development strategy;
· Action to support rural activities in the green wedges and create buffers to help protect them from the impacts of urban growth;
· Define and protect rail freight access options in the West to reduce heavy freight traffic on the roads;
· Unlock the potential of the Werribee Technology Precinct;
· Support for the activity centre along the proposed new transit corridor in Wyndham Vale/ Manor Lakes and Tarneit/Truganina to meet the strategy’s aim to place all new major activity centres on transit corridors; and
· The implementation of the proposal to create an effective coastal reserve in Werribee South.
Wyndham mayor Shane Bourke said Melbourne 2030 had a big impact on future planning for the municipality.
“When the strategy was first launched in 2002, the council supported the majority of the principles, but also made detailed submissions on individual elements,” he said.
“This process allows the council to have valuable input on a strategy that has wide-ranging implications on issues including transport, employment, and urban and business development.
“It’s important for the council to work in partnership with the State Government to ensure the objectives of Melbourne 2030 are met.”
