MARIBYRNONG Council is calling on the state government to better address the area’s growing infrastructure, transport, job and housing pressures.
In its submission to a metropolitan planning strategy, tabled at least week’s city development committee meeting, the council outlines its key concerns for addressing Maribyrnong’s role as a gateway to the port and city.
Key projects include the east-west link and Metro, redeveloping Dynon Road into a new commercial and residential precinct, and getting trucks off residential streets. “Delayed action on these key projects will have a visible impact on not just the western suburbs but also the rest of the city, Victoria and Australia,” the submission states. It centres on Maribyrnong’s liveability in view of an expected 30,000 extra residents — in nearly 16,000 new dwellings — entering the area by 2030.
The submission identifies the need to address six themes: economic development, transport, housing, education, infrastructure, and community wellbeing/cultural diversity.
Major transport issues include the need for more trains, a second major river crossing and infrastructure for dealing with the massive increase in freight volume through the Port of Melbourne, and the “unacceptable number of trucks travelling through the inner west”.
“Much of the freight movement through Maribyrnong takes place on roads with sensitive residential interfaces, causing significant amenity concerns for the community,” the submission states. “For this reason, the state government needs to manage the potential impacts to the community in terms of noise, vibration, air quality, congestion and safety.”
The council wants a better “multi-modal” transport system to cope with the western suburbs’ population swelling by 300,000 in the next decade. The council wants a mix of affordable housing, renewal of public housing and better housing design. It has warned that decontamination and remediation of former industrial land is crucial.
Creative businesses such as design are identified as an important growth sector with small manufacturers still vital.
