The City of Wyndham will get a $533 million package from the Victorian
Government to fund new infrastructure developments.
Planning Minister Matthew Guy has approved the infrastructure
contributions package to fund key roads, community facilities and services in
the City of Wyndham. The Wyndham West Development Contributions Plan (DCP) will
help fund the delivery of 15.6 kilometres of new roads, 33 intersections, 27
bridges, 18 full size sports fields within 122 hectares of new open space and
6.3 hectares of land for community facilities across seven new precincts over
the next 30 years.
The contributions plan also featured a landmark agreement between the
Victorian Government, City of Wyndham and developer Lend Lease that will allow
funding to be brought forward to deliver the Armstrong Road/Ison Road link
between the Werribee River and the Princes Freeway. Mr Guy explains that the construction
of Armstrong Road and Ison Road is required early in the development of the
Wyndham West sub-corridor.
A proposal has also been put forward to use the recently introduced
Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution Works-in-Kind (GAIC WIK) arrangements
to build a bridge over the Geelong railway line as part of the delivery of Ison
Road, which would significantly improve traffic flow in Werribee.
Mr Guy said the Wyndham West DCP outlined $533 million worth of
projects, with developer contributions set to provide $431.6 million to help
fund new infrastructure. The balance of funds for the projects identified in
the DCP for the Wyndham West precincts will be covered by GAIC WIK, DCPs for
adjoining areas, Section 173 agreements, Government budget cycle contributions
and contributions from Wyndham City Council and Melbourne Water.
The DCP’s approval will also kick-start the first stage of the $1
billion Harpley development, within the approved Black Forest Road South
precinct. To commence in August, the 435-hectare precinct will ultimately
provide 4,000 new homes, key transport links and community facilities.
Mr Guy has also approved two precinct structure plans to create two new
communities within the Wyndham West collection area. Approval of the Ballan
Road and Westbrook precincts will ultimately lead to the development of 11,400
housing lots over the next 30 years. These two precincts are key components of
the Napthine Government's plan to deliver 50,000 housing lots across Melbourne
in 2014 to improve housing affordability and manage population growth.
The Napthine Government has now released a total of 95,000 housing lots
since 2011 with the median lot price down to $190,000 currently from a peak of
$225,000 in late 2010. Also, confidence in Victoria's building industry is at
record levels, according to the Master Builders Association.
Mr Guy observes that Coalition planning reforms are giving more
Victorian families the opportunity to own an affordable home, whether in the
outer suburbs, or in the central city. Additionally, the increased construction
activity is creating thousands of new jobs in the building industry. Building
permit activity for 2014 so far is up 13 per cent over the same period in 2013,
up to $10.6 billion while domestic building permits for detached homes are up
19 per cent.
Apart from Ballan Road, Westbrook and Black Forest Road South, Wyndham
West includes the approved Alfred Road precinct and future plans for Black
Forest Road North, Bayview and Quandong. These precincts are expected to
provide approximately 27,000 new homes for 75,000 residents.
Recent Coalition Government investments in Wyndham infrastructure
include the $100 million Williams Landing train station, two new train stations
at Tarneit and Wyndham Vale as part of the $4.8 billion Regional Rail Link, and
$72 million for the Sneydes Road freeway interchange and associated works to
enable development of the East Werribee Employment Precinct.