WYNDHAM PLANNING SCHEME

21.02 PROFILE OF WYNDHAM 19/01/2006 VC37

21.02-1 Location 19/01/2006 VC37 The City of Wyndham is approximately 542 square kilometres in area. It is located on the western fringe of metropolitan , midway between the Melbourne central business district (30 kilometres) and (35 kilometres). Wyndham’s southern boundary is formed by the Bay coastline. The is the major road transport route, traversing the municipality from east to west. The Western Ring Road provides links with the northern metropolitan area and rail connects Wyndham with Melbourne and Geelong. The municipality functions as a gateway between the metropolitan area and western . Five municipalities adjoin Wyndham – the Cities of Hobsons Bay, Brimbank and Greater Geelong, and the Shires of Melton and Moorabool. The land uses abutting the city’s eastern boundary are predominantly urban, while those abutting its northern and western boundaries are predominantly rural.

21.02-2 A City of Diversity

05/10/2006 C51 As a rapidly growing municipality with a wide range of existing and potential land uses, Wyndham offers significant opportunities. It has a plentiful supply of land and boasts a city-country lifestyle which is attractive to families. The City of Wyndham supports a diversity of activities within a relatively self-contained area. Wyndham’s major residential areas are located centrally in the municipality. They include , Werribee and Hoppers Crossing, with planned extensions to the north-west and south of the Princes Freeway (Point Cook). These areas are bounded by surrounding rural areas to the north and west, industry to the east, and intensive agriculture, wastewater treatment, wetlands and the Port Phillip Bay coastline to the south. Wyndham is separated to some extent from the metropolitan area by large, low-intensity uses such as industrial buffers and the Laverton RAAF base. The resultant limited development in these areas appears as a non-urban break and reinforces Wyndham’s character as a “country suburb”. Tourism adds diversity and vitality to Wyndham. Of considerable note are the Mansion at Werribee Park, Victoria’s Open Range Zoo at Werribee, the National Equestrian Centre, Point Cook Metropolitan Park and Homestead and the RAAF Museum at Point Cook. Other key attractions include the Werribee Park golf course, the Werribee South market garden area, foreshore, and Werribee Racecourse and, potentially, the unique bird habitats of the coastal area. Wyndham contains major defence facilities at Laverton and Point Cook, although both are being de-commissioned as operational military airports. Point Cook will continue to be used for various aviation activities. Wyndham is located between Victoria’s two dominant urban centres, Melbourne and Geelong. The city is traversed by a major freeway and railway, and has convenient access to the principal airports at Tullamarine and Avalon, the principal seaports at Melbourne and Geelong and the central business district of Melbourne. In addition, Wyndham has an established employment base. A large amount of moderately-priced industrial land with good access to the Western Ring Road is available for development, and a substantial increase in industrial and warehouse development close to the Western Ring Road has occurred in recent years. Major environmental features include the , Skeleton Creek, Lollypop Creek, Little River, Laverton Creek, Kororoit Creek and their tributaries as identifiable waterway corridors, the character of view sheds, vistas and views to natural features, the coastline of Port Phillip Bay and the internationally significant natural habitats and wetlands of Point Cook and the Western Treatment Complex (Melbourne Water Corporation).

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A waterway includes rivers, creeks, tributaries, and permanent watercourses, floodplains, ephemeral wetlands and riparian land. The “waterways corridor” refers to the aquatic and riparian land containing the core environmental values of the waterway area such as floodplain function, in-stream habitat, riparian vegetation, flora and fauna species and habitats, ephemeral and permanent wetlands, grassy swamps adjoining the waterway, native grasslands adjoining the riparian corridor, the natural valley form and escarpments and includes the natural valley form, escarpments, associated wetlands and floodplain areas up to the 1:100 ARI floodline.

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0 5 10 15 20km

Wyn d h a m (C it y)

MITCHELL MACEDON RA NG ES

MURRINDINDI WHITTLESEA (CITY)

HUME (CITY) NILLUMBIK

MOORABOOL MELBOURNE AIRPORT 20km MELTON

MORELAND (CITY) DAREBIN ESSENDO N (CITY) AIRPORT BANYULE MOONEE (CITY) YARRA RANG ES BRIMBANK VALLEY (CITY) (CITY) MANNINGHAM (CITY) MARIBYRNONG (CITY) C.B.D. BORO ONDARA MAROONDAH (CITY) (CITY) WHITEHO RSE HO BSO NS BAY WYNDHAM (CITY) (CITY) (CITY) KNOX Wyndham GLEN EIRA (CITY) to Melbourne C.B.D. & (CITY) MONASH Port of Melbourne (CITY) 20 Minutes B A ( C Y GOLDEN PLAINS S I I T D Y MOORABBIN MELBOURNE ) E (CITY) (HARRY HAWKER) AIRPORT

KINGSTON GREATER AVALON (CITY) GEELONG GREATER (CITY) AIRPORT DANDENONG CARDINIA (CITY)

BAW BAW

CASEY (CITY) FRANKSTON GEELONG (CITY) C.B.D.

PO RT PHILLIP BAY

SURF C O A ST

MORNINGTON PENINSULA

SO UTH G I PPSLAND

BASS COAST

Re g i o n a l C o n t e xt Pl a n 1 WYNDHAM MUNICIPAL STRATEG IC STATEM ENT

Map 1: Wyndham – Regional Context

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21.02-3 A Growth Area 19/01/2006 VC37 Wyndham is one of Melbourne’s principal growth areas. Wyndham’s population in 1996 was 73,691 (ABS Census). The State Department of Infrastructure predicts that it will reach 124,472 by 2011 (see Victoria in Future). Projected population levels are shown in Figure 1. In 1996, Wyndham’s population was growing at a rate of 3-4 per cent per annum, which is one of the highest growth rates in the metropolitan area.

Figure 1: Wyndham – Estimated Population to 2021

1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 Population 73,691 90,121 106,332 124,472 144,579 164,922 (Census)

180,000

160,000

140,000

120,000

100,000

80,000

60,000

40,000

20,000

0 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021

Rapid population growth results in the need to continually upgrade and improve physical and social infrastructure, particularly roads and community services, to accommodate increased demands. The provision of cost-effective infrastructure, and hence affordable development, is a major challenge facing Wyndham now and in the future. Wyndham includes the existing urban areas of Werribee, Hoppers Crossing and Wyndham Vale. Wyndham’s urban areas are situated relatively centrally within the municipality near the Princes Freeway, with growth areas extending incrementally on three preferred fronts (Wyndham North, Wyndham West and Point Cook). Urban growth is primarily driven by new residential development, although there is likely to be increasing infill industrial development on the north- eastern edge of the municipality. Two small rural settlements are located at the edges of the municipality. Little River is a township of about 660 people situated to the south-west, adjacent to the municipal border with the . Werribee South township is located to the east of the mouth of the Werribee River and accommodates about 500 permanent residents. These settlements may accommodate small levels of urban development, being affected by various environmental and servicing constraints.

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21.02-4 Ageing of the Population 19/01/2006 VC37 Nearly half of Wyndham’s population (45 per cent) is under 24 years of age, while nearly 90 per cent is under the age of 50. However, while Wyndham is a young city today, this will inevitably change. For example, the proportion of the population over 60 years of age is projected to increase from 7.5 per cent in 1986 to 14.2 per cent in 2021. The estimated population of different age groups over the next two decades is outlined in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Projected Population of Different Age Groups to 2021

1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021

0-4 10% 9% 9% 8% 8% 8%

5-14 17% 16% 16% 15% 15% 14%

15-24 16% 14% 14% 14% 14% 13%

25-39 29% 29% 28% 27% 26% 26%

40-59 21% 23% 24% 25% 25% 25%

60-74 6% 6% 7% 8% 10% 11%

75+ 2% 2% 3% 3% 3% 4%

Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

30%

25%

0-4 20% 5-14 15-24 15% 25-39 40-59

10% 60-74 75+

5%

0% 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021

As well as showing the ageing trend, the chart indicates that the proportion of population in different age groups will become slightly more balanced by the year 2021. The 25 to 39 age group will still be the largest, but it will represent only 25 per cent of the population in 2021, rather than 28.5 per cent as it did in 1996. The ageing of the population will have implications for the future provision of housing, recreation facilities, health facilities, public transport and other infrastructure.

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21.02-5 Future Housing Needs 19/01/2006 VC37 As an area favoured by young home-buyers, Wyndham has a high proportion of conventional family households. Household size at 1996 was 3.1 persons per house compared with the metropolitan average of 2.7. Residential development largely comprises single detached dwellings (90 per cent of all housing stock in 1996) on relatively large allotments. The provision of multi-unit residences is low compared with the metropolitan area as a whole. It is projected that average household size will decline from the current 3.1 persons to 2.85 persons by 2021. This compares with the projected average for the metropolitan area of 2.53 persons per household at the same date. Wyndham’s projected average household size and total number of households are shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3: Projected Average Household Size and Number of Households to 2021

Number of 24,532 29,941 35,923 42,628 50,202 57,867 households

Average 3.10 3.01 2.96 2.92 2.88 2.85 household size

60,000 3.10 Households Household size 3.05 50,000 3.00 40,000 2.95

30,000 2.90 Households 2.85

20,000 People per household 2.80 10,000 2.75

0 2.70 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021

While Wyndham must cater to the present-day needs of its many large, young households, it must also anticipate future needs. There is already evidence that an increasing number of mature-age home-buyers are seeking a second or third residence in Wyndham. Other members of the community will require accommodation more in keeping with their particular needs. For example, there is likely to be an increase in demand for unit accommodation as the population ages. Current household formation rates and residential density outcomes (between 9 and 12 dwellings per hectare) suggest that upwards of 1,000 dwellings will be constructed annually. Due to a downturn in the housing market, the present (1996) rate of construction is about 800 dwellings a year, indicating that a significant latent demand exists for future years.

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21.02-6 Transporting the Community 19/01/2006 VC37 Wyndham is strategically located in relation to Port Phillip’s two major seaports, the Melbourne central business district, Melbourne Airport and Melbourne’s major road transport system. Trips to and from workplaces and leisure facilities in central Melbourne generate a high proportion of Wyndham’s traffic, and most of these trips are made on the Princes Freeway. The Melbourne– Geelong railway line provides an electrified link to Werribee and the national rail link passes through Werribee.

21.02-7 A Place for Business 19/01/2006 VC37 Wyndham has a diverse and vibrant local economy comprising major industrial development in Laverton, intensive agriculture at Werribee South, busy commercial precincts and an extensive new housing market. Wyndham’s location in relation to major road infrastructure, employment opportunities, and the availability of land suitable for urban development, will ensure that the city functions as an integral part of the metropolitan, State and national economies into the next century. Laverton North is one of Melbourne’s key strategic industrial areas, home to national and international companies in the sectors of steel manufacture, chemicals, food processing and storage and transport. In addition, research and development activities of State and national significance are conducted in the Technology Precinct at Werribee, including the Australian Food Industry Science Centre, the Gilbert Chandler Institute, the Grains Research Board, Victoria University, and the Melbourne University Veterinary Clinic. In 1995, a nationwide survey of local government areas identified Wyndham as the second most attractive municipal area in Victoria in which to conduct business; the city was ranked 14th Australia-wide. The Werribee South Intensive Agriculture Area, south of the Princes Freeway, occupies about 3,000 hectares and is recognised as a vegetable growing area of State significance, with produce directed not only to domestic consumption but also export markets. North of the freeway and beyond the urban areas there is extensive dryland farming – mainly cropping and grazing. About 60 per cent of the municipality’s land area is devoted to these uses. Wyndham has a higher proportion of people with vocational qualifications but a lower proportion with tertiary qualifications than the metropolitan average. The city has relatively low employment in managerial and business fields, and there was an overall decline in the proportion of the workforce in professional employment between 1981 and 1991. The 1991 census revealed that finance, property and business services employ 7.9 per cent of males and 15.9 per cent of females in Wyndham, compared with 12.5 per cent of males and 15.25 per cent of females in the Melbourne metropolitan area. Similarly, recreation, personal and other services employ 3.1 per cent of males and 6.6 per cent of females in Wyndham, compared with 5.5 per cent and 7.8 per cent respectively for the metropolitan area. Employment sectors strongly represented in Wyndham include public administration and defence (due largely to the significant RAAF presence) and transport and storage. Employment in transport-related industries is above the average for the Melbourne Statistical Division. The proportion of the workforce employed in both manufacturing and agriculture has declined in recent times, while the proportion employed in the service sector, especially wholesale and retail trade, community services, and recreation, personal and other services, has increased. The participation of Wyndham’s workforce in different employment sectors between 1981 and 1991 is outlined in Figure 4.

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Figure 4: Workforce Participation in Employment Sectors 1981-1991

1981 1986 1991

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing etc. 4% 3% 2%

Mining 0% 0% 0%

Manufacturing 22% 20% 18%

Electricity, Gas & Water Utilities 4% 3% 2%

Construction 5% 6% 6%

Wholesale & Retail Trade 16% 18% 20%

Transport & Storage 6% 7% 7%

Communication 2% 2% 2%

Finance, Property & Business Services 13% 10% 11%

Public Administration and Defence 15% 14% 13%

Community Services 12% 13% 14%

Recreation, Personal and other Services 2% 3% 4%

25.00%

1981 20.00% 1986 1991

15.00%

10.00%

5.00%

0.00% Agriculture, M anufacturing Construction Transport & Finance, Community Forestry, Storage Property & Services Fishing etc. Business Services

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21.02-8 Centers of Activity 19/01/2006 VC37 There are currently two main centres of commercial activity. Werribee Plaza, located at the corner of Derrimut and Heaths Roads in Hoppers Crossing, is the central focus for retail shopping and contains about 30,000 square metres of gross leasable floor area (glfa), with considerable potential for expansion. The second focus for commercial activity is Werribee Central, the area around Watton Street and Werribee railway station. This was the original town centre and activity hub for Werribee, with a mix of retail and ancillary office development, and primarily serving the existing Werribee catchment. The Werribee Town Centre currently has about 26,000 square metres of retail glfa. Despite its proximity to the railway station, the potential for retail expansion in the area appears to be limited, as does demand for additional office space. However, there is potential for growth in specialty services, boutique shopping, restaurants and other activities that can take advantage of Watton Street’s location beside the Werribee River. The Hoppers Crossing centre, near the Hoppers Crossing railway station, is a local/community- level centre with 13,000 square metres of glfa. There is limited capacity for expansion, but some potential to improve the integration of activities, particularly given the location of Hoppers Crossing railway station and the centre’s visibility to the Princes Highway The Shaws Road centre (at the intersection of Tarneit Road) comprises 4,000 square metres of glfa and has limited scope for expansion. The Hogans Corner centre, located at the intersection of Derrimut Road and Hogans Road, has approval for 5,000 square metres glfa. There is also potential for bulk sales, service business and office activity on adjoining land. Future sub-regional and local convenience centres are planned in the growth areas of Wyndham West, Wyndham North and Point Cook.

21.02-9 Environmental Features 05/10/2006 C51 The Werribee River is one of only three major rivers in the Melbourne metropolitan area and contains sites of State and regional ecological and landscape significance. Skeleton and Lollypop Creeks have inherent values linked to their intermittent nature and the significant Western Plains grassland vegetation communities which adjoin them. Little River contains values of National significance and very high ecological values on riparian land. The protected RAMSAR wetlands at Point Cook and the Western Treatment Complex support habitat for migratory birds. The waterway corridors provide biodiversity links between estuarine environments and their headwaters in Wyndham and beyond. Their significant features include habitat for rare and endangered species and vegetation communities, escarpments and other geologic formations, floodplains and associated riparian zones and wetlands, and cultural heritage sites. The waterway corridors support community and economic assets such as open space and recreational lands, linked trail systems, tourism destinations, educational opportunities and irrigation water for the Werribee South Intensive Agricultural Area. The intrinsic qualities and enjoyment of the waterway corridors are influenced by the proximity, intensity and quality of development in the corridors, the character of development in adjoining view sheds, and views and vistas to natural features.

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