Wyndham’s wish list tops $6m

By Alesha Capone

Wyndham council will ask the state government for $6.12 million to help fund eight projects across the municipality, including redeveloping the former Glen Devon school site in Werribee into a temporary park.

The council last week released the list of projects it will ask the state government to help fund through the Growing Suburbs Fund’s 2018-19 allocation round, which will give $50 million in infrastructure assistance to Melbourne’s fastest growing municipalities.

The council’s list included a request for $870,000 to transform the Glen Devon land on Market Road into a “temporary park” with tree planting, paths and lawn areas.

Cr Mia Shaw said the site had been vacant for “a very long time”.

“Something needs to be done for it, and in that local community area, I think re-activating that site is going to be very important,” she said.

The state government is determining the future use of the Glen Devon site, which is owned by the Department of Education and Training.

In January, Werribee MP Tim Pallas said the Minister for Education had informed him that the site might be retained for “possible future educational provision”.

As part of its submission to the Growing Suburbs Fund, Wyndham council also requested $1.5 million to buy a Street Surfer Bus, to deliver youth services in the municipality.

Cr Josh Gilligan said the bus was needed because of Wyndham’s booming population.

The council also asked for:

•$1 million to help provide more community meeting space at The Grange Community Centre in Hoppers Crossing. The council will put $1.7 million towards the project;

•Funding of $1 million to redevelop the Mossfiel Netball Pavilion in Hoppers Crossing, to which the council will devote an additional $1.4 million;

•Funding of $800,000 to install solar panels and battery storage on community buildings, to which the council will contribute $800,000; and

•The sum of $452,000 to help upgrade the Central Park Community Centre in Hoppers Crossing, as part of an overall $2.4 million upgrade.

The council had also requested $325,000 to upgrade Golden Square Reserve in Hoppers Crossing and $200,000 for Friars Place Park in Point Cook.