ACCESS to local jobs, a bustling town centre and a great lifestyle without the need to commute to Melbourne are part of Melton Council and the Growth Areas Authority’s vision for the shire’s newest suburb at Toolern.
But the Melton Residents Association has warned that while plans in an urban design framework released last week are positive, immediate changes are needed for the wider shire.
“All these additions are in the embryonic stage and are decades away,” MRA president Peter Rowan said.
“In the meantime, it’s about time the state government concentrated on the existing public transport system, which needs improvement.”
The GAA and council last week announced the new town centre, south-east of Melton, was expected to create 20,000 jobs and set a new standard in urban design for an expected population of 60,000 over 30 years.
Plans include easy access to the Western Freeway, a railway station, bus interchange and transport links. In a joint statement, GAA chief executive Peter Seamer and mayor Justin Mammarella said the new suburb would feature a mix of white-collar and manufacturing jobs, commercial premises and community services.
Cr Mammarella said Toolern’s town centre would become a focal point for employment, retail, health and education services, and attractive, affordable housing.
“The shire of Melton is one of Australia’s fastest growing areas and good planning will enable us to grasp the opportunities presented by this growth,” he said. Mr Rowan said it was more than 30 years ago that initial entry and exit ramps were built to Melton township.
“We haven’t had any improvements to the entry and exit ramps – just what we were given 30 years ago.”
