WYNDHAM City councillors are concerned for the future of the central business district around Watton and Synnot streets in Werribee.
Cr Henry Barlow said he believed this was the number-one issue coming out of the draft Activity Centre Strategy Review, which was considered by the council last week.
“The strategy review is for all of Wyndham, but I believe it gives us an opportunity to get it right for the businesses in the CBD area,” he said.
“At the moment there are good restaurants, a number of doctors, lawyers and accountants, and then there are many businesses that are like the $2 shops.
“But what’s the ‘attractor’ to the area?
“We need to see what we can do to attract people from, say, the Point Cook and Tarneit areas to the north.
“These people have to travel past Werribee Plaza and so will shop there.
“What can we do to get more people to come to the CBD?
“Otherwise it’s going to be a strip shopping centre that’s going to stagnate.”
Cr Barlow believes one strategy would be to encourage higher-density living, such as apartments above the shops, so more people would be living in the area.
He was supported by Cr Heather Marcus, who said at the meeting “the CBD can grow and we can turn it around”.
The council passed a recommendation that the draft Activity Centres Strategy be referred to the Minister for Planning, Justin Madden, to seek consent for exhibition.
The amendments, also passed, were to guide minimum catchments for local centres and encourage home-based businesses and that the Werribee Town Centre policy delete reference to encouraging bulky-goods retailing in Synnot St.
The strategy review foresaw Werribee remaining a strong town centre, particularly building on its office-based services.
It said this was supported by Werribee’s pleasant aspect, traditional town centre role and road and rail access.
The council also received a petition signed by 57 residents requesting regular surveillance and patrols of parking time limits within the total length of Watton St, as depicted by the existing signage, to ensure rotation and parking availability for the public and patrons who support the CBD of Werribee.
The council passed a motion that the petition be noted and a report be prepared for the next meeting.
Cr Marcus said there is a problem with parking in the area and cars needed to be rotated for the benefit of the businesses.
Cr Barlow agreed, but pointed out there was parking available even if it was off the two main streets.
“Unfortunately, human nature being what it is, people don’t like to walk.
“I’d point out that if you wanted to park in front of Myer in Bourke St, you wouldn’t be able to.
“I would like to encourage the employees of businesses in the Werribee CBD to park away from the main streets … that would free up a few spaces.”
