By Laura Michell
Whittlesea and Hume’s rapid population growth will outpace the capacity of community facilities in the near future, according to a new report by the state’s independent infrastructure advisory body.
Infrastructure Victoria’s ‘Social infrastructure in Melbourne’s growth areas’ study has found Whittlesea and Hume are among seven growth areas where government’s need to boost spending to stop residents being left behind.
Infrastructure Victoria chief executive Michel Masson said Whittlesea and Hume will each need a new library in the next five years, while a new aquatic and recreation centre (ARC) will be needed in Whittlesea during the same time period.
Mr Masson said Hume should begin planning “immediately” for the timely delivery of a new aquatic centre.
“Rapid urban expansion means social infrastructure has failed to keep pace with population increases in the new growth areas of Melton, Cardinia, Casey, Hume, Mitchell, Whittlesea and Wyndham,” he said.
“It’s not enough to just plan and build housing in greenfield suburbs, all levels of government need to better integrate social infrastructure so that everyone has access to similar services, regardless of postcode.”
According to the report, the seven growth areas are projected to be home to over 930,000 more people by 2036.
Already, Hume and Whittlesea are each larger than both the Cities of Ballarat and Bendigo, the report stated.
In a submission to Victoria’s draft 30-year infrastructure strategy, Whittlesea council highlighted the challenges of providing social infrastructure in growth areas.
The council said the suburbs of Mernda and Doreen, which are 20 years old and have a population of about 50,000 people, were without an aquatic centre. The nearest regional facilities are seven kilometres away in Mill Park, the council said.
” A community hub including a library and sports hub including an aquatic facility and indoor high ball courts have been long planned for and land secured for these uses. However, demand exists for both facilities to be delivered at a similar point in time creating a significant delivery and funding challenge,” the submission said.
Hume council planning and development director Michael Sharp said new aquatic and library facilities will be needed in the municipality’s north, adding that council was working to confirm the location and timing of these facilities.
“We seek to ensure the timely delivery of all council infrastructure in these communities but the growth that
Hume has experienced, and will continue to experience, relies on support from other levels of government, developers and the private sector,” he said.
“While council is able to deliver certain types of infrastructure, it also acknowledges that one tier of government cannot deliver every service our growing community needs on its own.”
