Businesses and industry groups which call the western suburbs home are being encouraged to provide feedback on a plan for the future of the region.
With the west of Melbourne’s population to reach one million in 2026, and 1.3 million a decade later, the West of Melbourne Economic Development Alliance (WoMEDA) is keen to understand business, industry and community priorities for the region.
WoMEDA chair Peter Dawkins said the organisation is hoping business and industry leaders will read its consultation paper, Towards an Economic Development Strategy for the West of Melbourne 2025, and provide feedback.
“What should the infrastructure investment priorities be? With a growing capacity of skilled professionals, how do we encourage private sector investment to provide matched employment opportunities?” Mr Dawkins said.
“Werribee Zoo is a world-class visitor attraction. What could be the west’s next iconic visitor destination?
“We want to hear from business and industry leaders, as well as community organisations and interested members of the community, from across the west on these and other important questions to help shape our strategy.”
WoMEDA will release its economic development strategy 2025 in August, which the alliance said would lay the groundwork for its future efforts to promote an adapting, economically viable and sustainable west of Melbourne”
The alliance said that to put a population of 1.3 million into perspective, a population of that size is bigger than the last Census night’s combined populations of Tasmania, Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
“Important investments have been made such as the West Gate Tunnel, the new Footscray Hospital and the Wyndham Law Courts, along with the expanding number of schools across the west,” WoMEDA said.
“However with projected unabated population growth, a re-envisioning of the west of Melbourne is required. In particular the region will need far more local jobs for it population.”
Submissions on WoMEDA’s consultation paper can be made by Monday, March 31 via executiveofficer@womeda.com.au
