By Paul Dunlop
PLANS to make Pakenham the new jobs capital of the south east could be hamstrung by poor public transport and road infrastructure, Cardinia Shire councillor Doug Hamilton has warned.
Cr Hamilton last week said there was an urgent need for a Kooweerup bypass and other works along the PakenhamKooweerup Road, with moves afoot to create up tens of thousands of jobs in new industrial areas on the outskirts of town.
He said better public transport between towns north and south of Pakenham was also crucial if the benefits of the State Government’s CaseyCardinia growth area plans were to be fully realised.
“It’s great to have the jobs coming but it’s no good if people living in surrounding areas can’t get to work,” Cr Hamilton said.
The Port Ward councillor was speaking after updated plans were released late last year for Melbourne’s five ‘growth areas’.
Planning Minister Rob Hulls has approved changes to the urban growth boundaries that will increase the amount of land available for housing, employment and commercial development.
In the CaseyCardinia growth area, 1250 hectares of additional land will provide room for up to 85,000 new homes, while 448 additional hectares have been set aside to support industry and commerce, creating potential for up 140,000 jobs. Many of these jobs will be created at Pakenham and Officer, with 188 hectares set aside at the Greenhills industrial estate on Pakenham’s southern fringe as well as a 2088hectare industrial precinct between the two towns.
The new Growth Areas Authority has said it will work in partnership with local government to ensure that detailed plans were made for new communities and that the delivery of infrastructure was coordinated.
Cr Hamilton said it was critical that outlying areas of the shire were not left behind.
“The State Government has said this is where the jobs are going to be, so they need to direct the traffic into Pakenham,” he said.
“The first priority, apart from the completion of the Pakenham Bypass, is a further bypass at Kooweerup and a fourlane highway between Kooweerup and Pakenham.
“Bus services need to be improved between the swamp area and the hills area, we need to maintain the pressure for that to happen.”
Transport Minister Peter Batchelor was in the area last week to turn the sod on new bridges planned for Bayles and announce a major upgrade to Drouin train station.
Mr Batchelor said further announcements for transport improvements in the area could be made soon.
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