By Kerri-Anne Mesner
STRICT rules imposed by Melbourne 2030 and Green Wedge policies are limiting service provision and employment opportunities in the fastest-growing municipality in Victoria.
Melton mayor Justin Mammarella said with more than 75 per cent of Melton Shire residents working outside the municipality, council would like to see improved public transport and the opportunity to provide more employment in the municipality through light and commercial industrial development.
“At the moment, I can not see the strict rules and policy guidelines of Melbourne 2030 and the Green Wedge as being of benefit to our municipality,” Cr Mammarella said.
Planning and development general manager Luke Shannon said 70 per cent of Melton Shire was part of the Green Wedge, which restricted further residential and industrial developments.
Chief executive officer Neville Smith said that while Caroline Springs and Hillside had had their urban growth boundaries expanded by 200 hectares, both areas were due to be mostly developed within the next five years.
Mr Smith said figures showed Caroline Springs had been growing at a faster rate than the Melton township, with Melton’s growth rate at about 6 per cent and Caroline Springs at 15 per cent.
Cr Mammarella said the council’s vision was for more development in the eastern corridor of the municipality, particularly light and commercial industrial in Diggers Rest and Plumpton, and public transport for the whole area including Caroline Springs and Hillside.
Cr Mammarella said besides the problem of people employed outside the municipality using cars to get to work, there was also an issue with the cost and time it took residents to travel to universities.
He said students living in the Melton municipality needed to use a vehicle, move closer to the city or take three buses and two different train lines just to get to La Trobe University.
The proposed train station that had been investigated by the State Government for Christie Rd in Caroline Springs, which was no longer being considered, would have eased public transport problems.
Cr Mammarella said the public transport issue linked in with the need to provide local employment for local residents. The council would like to see as many as possible of its residents working inside the municipality.
“The only way to do that is to allow more development,” he said.
Cr Mammarella said Diggers Rest was ideal for further development due to the Sydenham train line going through the area, along with the Calder Freeway and Melton Highway in the surrounds.
