Best and worst places to live in Wyndham during Stage 4 lockdown

Melburnians can only travel within a 5km radius from their homes, so where does that leave Wyndham residents? Some have access to great parks and a plethora of supermarkets, but others don’t have much at all. See how your suburb fares.

Wyndham has lost a lot of its main attractions during the lockdown including children’s parks and Werribee Open Range Zoo. Picture: Werribee Open Range Zoo

The tough Stage 4 lockdown means Melburnians can now only travel up to 5km from home for shopping and exercise.

This has left some Wyndham residents, including those living in Werribee South and the semi-rural areas of Cocoroc and Mambourin, isolated from their closest pharmacies, supermarkets and petrol stations, which are located up to 19km away.

So what are the best and worst Wyndham suburbs to live in during the state’s coronavirus restrictions?

We’ve compiled a list, let us know in the comments below if we’ve missed anything:

BEST

Wyndham Vale

Wyndham Vale residents seem to be blessed with it all. Supermarkets such as Aldi, IGA, Woolworths and Coles are within an easy 5km walk for most. There are also a number of Indian groceries including SuperBazaar, FoodEase and UR Pantry. Schools, shopping centres such as Wyndham Square and Manor Lakes, and places of religious worship such as the Grand Mosque are temporarily closed. Those in need of a little fresh air and exercise can visit one of the area’s abundance of parks and recreational reserves including Heathdale Glen Orden Wetlands, Wyndham Vale South reserve and the Werribee River trail. Restaurants such as The Pizza Kings, Fresh Chilli Thai, Wyndham Vale Fish and Chips and plenty of others are also open for business and within the 5km radius.

Werribee

Werribee’s 5km radius encompasses Wyndham Vale and borders Manor Lakes and Hoppers Crossing. Pacific Werribee and other local shopping centres are closed, however supermarkets such as Woolworths and Coles remain open, as do bottle shops such as Thirsty Camel on Cottrell St and BWS Commercial Drive in Watton St, Werribee. Children’s playgrounds such as those at Presidents Park and Conquest Drive Park have closed. Residents have fantastic options for exercise including the Heathdale Glen Orden Wetlands, Kelly Park, Galvin Park Reserve and the Werribee River Trail. Werribee’s off leash dog park in Wyndham Vale is also a great spot to let your fur babies let off a little steam.

Williams Landing

Williams Landing has a 5km radius that borders Point Cook, Altona, Hoppers Crossing and Laverton North. Williams Landing Shopping Centre is closed, but supermarkets such as Woolworths Williams Landing and Coles Central Square remain open. PharmaSave Williams Landing and Cellarbrations in Overton Rd are also still open for business. Residents have access to Williams Landing Parkland, an off leash dog park in Perennial Drive, Truganina, and Delaney Boulevard Park. Children’s playgrounds such as the on at Ashcroft Park are temporarily closed.

Hoppers Crossing

Hoppers Crossing residents live within a 5km radius of Williams Landing, Westbrook and Tarneit. Shopping centres such as Pacific Werribee are closed, as are sport and leisure centres such as Wyndham Waters. Luckily the area has access to heaps of supermarkets including IGA Hoppers Crossing, Coles on Old Geelong Rd, Woolworths Hogans Corner, and the Mohini and the Pacific Asian Supermarket. Stretch your legs at Heathland Glen Orden Wetlands Reserve or Tarneit Lakes.

Laverton North

Laverton North’s 5km radius shares borders with Williams Landing, Laverton, Altona, Altona North, Brooklyn, Sunshine West and the Wyndham Industrial Estate in Truganina. Residents can spend their exercise hour exploring Derrimut Grassland Nature Conservation Reserve, Truganina Swamp or the Kororoit Creek trail. They also have the option of doing a few laps at Crofts Reserve in Altona North or the AB Shaw Reserve in Altona Meadows. All retailers except supermarkets and chemists are closed at the Central Square Shopping Centre. Sunshine Golf Club is closed, as are schools such as Sunshine College and Altona College to all but a select few students.

Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club has temporarily closed, as have children’s parks and shopping centres. Picture: Google street view

Point Cook

Point Cook’s 5km radius borders Port Phillip Bay, Williams Landing, the Point Cook Coastal Park, Cheetham Wetlands and Altona Meadows. It also includes RAAF Williams and Sanctuary Lakes. Heaps of restaurants remain open for takeaway including Wrap It Kebab, Kesari Point Cook, Grill’d Point Cook and Rendezvous Restaurant & Bar. But the Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club has closed as have shopping centres such as Stockland Point Cook and Sanctuary Lakes. Schools including Point Cook Secondary College and St Mary of the Cross to all but a select few students. Residents can stretch their legs at Bruce Comben Reserve and Truganina Park. The Skeleton Creek Trail is also a great shared path for both cyclists and pedestrians.

Tarneit

Tarneit residents live within a 5km radius of Hoppers Crossing. All Victorian schools, including Tarneit’s Thomas Carr College and Tarneit Rise Primary School, are closed to most students. Pacific Werribee and Tarneit Gardens shopping centres, both of which are within Tarneit’s 5km boundary, are closed. Supermarkets such as Woolworths, Aldi and Coles Tarneit West are open. So is the Tarneit Asian Supermarket on Derrimut Rd. Tarneit Lakes is a great spot for Tarneit residents to get out of the house for a little fresh air. Children's playgrounds such as the Aeroplane Playground in Stanhope Rd are temporarily closed, however.

WORST

Werribee South

Werribee South locals lose a bit of their 5km radius to Port Phillip Bay. Boating, swimming in the bay and other water sports are banned, but a walk down the beach is allowed if you can brave the winter weather. Most of Werribee’s main supermarkets such as Aldi, Werribee Grocery Clearance, and Woolworths and Coles in Watton St are out of reach for many of those who live in the centre of Werribee South. Werribee South General Store is open and FarmFresh2u is delivering fresh produce straight to people’s door. Takeaway options such as Sam’s Catch Fish n’ Chippery and Ohana Pizza are open. The Werribee Open Range Zoo is closed, as is the Werribee Park Golf Club.

Cocoroc

Cocoroc residents live within a 5km radius of the Western Treatment Plant, Port Phillip Bay and not much else. The suburb is sparsely populated and few people call this suburb home, but those who do live in Cocoroc face a 19.6km drive to their closest supermarket, Werribee Grocery Clearance.

Zoos Victoria are live streaming animals at Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo so people can still visit their favourite wildlife during lockdown. Picture: Zoos Victoria

Mambourin

Mambourin’s 5km radius borders Manor Lakes, the Werribee Refuse and Disposal Facility and the outskirts of Wyndham Vale. New housing estates are popping up in the area but many other things that would make life bearable during the lockdown, such as parks and public trails and sport reserves, are located outside the 5km boundary. Luckily, people in Mambourin won’t starve. Woolworths Wyndham Vale is a 2.3km drive from the centre of Mambourin and Woolworths Caltex and Aldi Wyndham Vale are also clustered nearby at the intersection of Armstrong and Greens roads. The nearby Manor Lakes shopping centre is closed, but restaurants and takeaway shops such as Greens Rd Fish & Chips and Wyndham Vale Pizza & Pasta.

Quandong

Quandong’s 5km radius borders Manor Lakes and the new Jubilee housing estate. Walking tracks and outdoor sport reserves available in other parts of Wyndham are well out of reach of Quandong’s residents, as are supermarkets. Coles Manor Lakes is an 8.7km drive from Quandong, while Woolworths Wyndham Vale is a 9.5km drive.

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