Employment and investment attraction

A commitment has been made within the Victorian Government’s Plan for Victoria for the development of the following employment precincts: Derrimut Fields, Chartwell East, Warrawee, Warrensbrook and Ravenhall (Quarry Site). We seek a commitment for investment to create jobs and: 

• ask the Victorian Government to fast-track development of employment precincts in Derrimut Fields, Chartwell East, Warrawee, Warrensbrook and Ravenhall (Quarry Site)
• seek a partnership with the Victorian Government and Australian Government for investment in precinct development of the Cobblebank Metropolitan Activity Centre with a review of the Urban Design Framework and identification of future economically significant projects
• ask for investment by the Victorian Government and Australian Government in the supporting transport infrastructure that attracts commercial investment. 

In 2023, the Australian Government accepted the recommendations of an independent review of the Inland Rail Project to develop two intermodal terminals, with Beveridge the first terminal to be delivered.

The Victorian Government is moving to protect land in Truganina for the future WIFT within the Chartwell East Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) area and plans to unlock land in the Derrimut Fields PSP area for industrial use. The WIFT, in Melbourne’s west, will be a key driver for local employment, creating 2,000 direct jobs and 39,000 indirect jobs and increasing productivity.

The WIFT is located close to around 50 per cent of existing interstate freight rail customers and will remove up to 2,000 daily truck movements from Melbourne’s inner west. With land set aside, it has the capacity to handle 1,800-metre-long, double-stacked trains and space for new logistic hubs.

Council seeks a commitment from the Victorian Government and Australian Government to: 

• construct Victoria’s second freight terminal in Truganina, the WIFT
• acquire the land required for the WIFT and develop the Chartwell East PSP 

The Outer Metropolitan Ring will connect the Melbourne’s north and west outer growth corridor that stretches from Little River in Melbourne’s west to Kalkallo in the north. It has provision for up to four rail tracks and six road lanes. This intergenerational project is long overdue and will be a gamechanger for residents and business, securing Victoria’s long-term economic prosperity.

The OMR would connect the Hume Freeway, Calder Highway, Western Highway and the Princess Freeway. It will connect millions of residents in the growing outer municipalities of Mitchell, Whittlesea, Hume, Melton, and Wyndham with road and rail transport.

A freight rail connection will connect the Commonwealth’s Inland Rail Project to the WIFT and south-west rail. It will connect freight transport hubs and employment precincts such as Melbourne Airport, Port of Melbourne, the future Baywest and regional centres.

The OMR has been in planning for far too long. It’s time that investment commenced to unlock our growth residential precincts and the major employment precincts in the north and west of Melbourne. Council is calling on the Australian Government, in partnership with the Victorian Government, to progress land acquisition and fund the construction of the OMR, including road, freight, and passenger rail services. 

Between 2021 and 2031, forecasts for the City of Melton indicate a 82.4 per cent increase in population of working age.* We need job-ready workers for the local jobs being created through investments in a new hospital and growing construction, schools, warehouse and logistics sectors.

The new Melton Hospital, when it opens in 2029, will create 3,975 direct jobs and 2,485 indirect jobs. New supply chain and logistics hubs will see 39,000 jobs created over the next 30 years within the WIFT, Melbourne Business Park, Horizon 3023 by Dexus, Goodmans Group Troupes Road Estate, Robinsons Road and others. Construction of 109,000 dwellings and community infrastructure over the next 30years will create an estimated 300,000 jobs during construction. An additional 50 kinder rooms will be required by 2029 to meet the Best Start Best Life initiative and the new schools opening now and into the future will need skilled and qualified educators.

Investment is needed to build a skilled local workforce and address existing gaps. This includes education and training initiatives, paid placements that allow students to gain on-the-job experience, funding for course fees to boost participation, and incentive programs for workers in early learning, maternal and child health, education, and health – similar to those offered in regional centres.