It is not an exaggeration to say that Point Cook, Truganina, and even Williams Landing have copped poor planning in the past.
“NEW suburbs in Melbourne are so poorly designed that residents face an epidemic of chronic diseases such as obesity and depression that will cost the health system millions of dollars, a state government inquiry has been told. Councils in outer growth areas say soaring populations have outstripped their ability to provide basic infrastructure such as public transport, parks and medical services, and are creating ”obesogenic” environments that promote weight gain.” [1]
We are an incredible community from all walks of life and parts of the globe, but it still is lacking local Employment Opportunities, Police Presence, Schools, Recreational Facilities, and Transport Infrastructure. Not to mention that issues with telecommunications remain unanswered. A lesson needs to be learned by government and those in its employ. Development and Planning must be sustainable. Impacts on the environment, heritage, infrastructure, services, and the community as a whole, must be addressed. Roads and Transport issues need to be taken into account.
For example, internet access for Point Cook remains an issue, with people using 3G internet or dial-up connections because the availability of ADSL ports had fallen short of the demand brought by population growth. “The area is a complete and utter internet black hole and will remain so until they throw some money at it, but it seems they don’t want to. It beggars belief,” [2]
Basic internet, unable to cope with the growth of a suburb, whose development was in the hands of government. It is as if the left hand not only does not talk to the right hand, its as if they are on totally separate bodies.
I honestly feel that Developers must ensure that services are available (and accessible) to each lot of an estate. If they cannot, they must disclose what is not available (and what time-frames to expect for connections).
It is frustrating to know, that Ms Julia Gillard on 10 April 2000, in a speech to the Australian Parliament said “there is the question of upgrading the necessary infrastructure if the site were to be devoted to housing development. For example, Point Cook Road—the road that links the base with the major freeway, the Princes Freeway—is in no way capable of taking extra traffic and is under standard for the volume of traffic that it currently is required to cater for. ” [3]
The issues of Roads and Public Transport were known fifteen years ago.
And based on advice from Wyndham Councillors, it could be 15 years before there is a solution for some urgent needs of today. According to reports, “The roads authority then developed a three-stage strategy that recommends a series of works over 15 years costing an estimated $21.9 million, including $9.7 million for the first stage.” [4]
Planning around Roads and Services must be to address the future needs of the community, not address a shortcoming from 15 or so years ago.
The population forecast for the region is extensive, with an effective doubling of peoples from 2011 to 2036. The need for a strategic plan is paramount.
Sources:
[1] http://news.domain.com.au/domain/health-fear-on-estates-20120314-1v3lw.html
[2] http://www.wyndham.starweekly.com.au/story/294577/nbn-rollout-point-cook-stuck-in-internet-black-hole/
[3] http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;db=CHAMBER;id=chamber%2Fhansardr%2F2000-04-10%2F0111;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansardr%2F2000-04-10%2F0000%22
[4] http://www.wyndham.starweekly.com.au/story/1834930/council-issues-funds-challenge-over-palmers-road-works/