Website run by Point Cook locals slams Aviators Field state government developmen plan
Neighbours near Aviators Field, land earmarked for more development in Point Cook, have slammed the project, and warned prospective buyers it would be “one of the dumbest choices you could make in your lifetime”. Here’s why.
Wyndham Leader
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People living near land earmarked for more high-density development in Point Cook have slammed the project, saying buying a home there would be “one of the dumbest choices you could make in your lifetime”.
A website has been set up urging people not to buy into Aviators Field, citing a lack of transport options and education and employment opportunities.
“There’s never-ending roadworks but the roads don’t work and there’s no bus to get you to the train station on the other side of the gridlocked freeway,” the aviatorfields.com.au website says.
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According to the Victorian Planning Authority, Aviators Field — an area of about 414ha next to Point Cook — will “provide residential land supply in an area with significant demand”.
It is one of 12 new communities being planned by the State Government over the next four years to provide “affordable” housing options for Melbourne’s burgeoning population.
But the tongue-in-cheek website, set up by a the “Aviator Fields Brains Trust (aka the sensible part of Point Cook)” says the area is already buckling under the pressure of population growth.
More than 4000 people have visited the page since it launched two days ago.
“The rest of Point Cook is in a shambles … and if you move to Aviator Fields you’re not only going to feel the effects of it, you’re also part of the problem,” the website says.
“It takes around 30 minutes to drive out of the suburb — or if you catch the bus (yes, we think there’s only one physical bus) you’re probably at closer to an hour.”
The site’s creator, who did not want to be named, told the Leader he moved to Point Cook about nine years ago, buying into the dream of owning a home close to the city.
“Like a lot pf people, Point Cook was the closest place to Melbourne where we could afford to buy a house,” he said.
“We were told ‘it’s only 30 minutes to the city down the freeway’ but we weren’t told it would take us another 30 to even get to the freeway.”
He said Point Cook’s amenities and infrastructure were already at capacity.
“It looks like it was set up for failure — this is an area that’s hemmed in on all sides by freeway and water … and if that freeway doesn’t work, and there are plenty of examples of that happening, you essentially seal people off inside,” he said.
“Someone needs to take a much closer look at how planning has been done out here.
“If they want to release more land, that’s fine but (Point Cook) already doesn’t cope right now, there’s already a big problem here and … I just think if the government lets our area fall too far further behind it’s just going to create slums.
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“(Politicians) keep talking about creating affordable housing but as far as I can work out, they way they believe you create it is by making sure the housing has none of the services available that people desire because if you make it really undesirable, it becomes cheap.
“At the end of the day I don’t care who ends up in power, our needs out here are just such a low-level type of need we’re not even worried about political ideology, we’re worried about whether our kids have somewhere to go to school.”
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The satirical website also hits out at crime and policing, medical care and retail options in the area — one of the fastest growing in Melbourne.
“Melbourne’s west is famous for its strong community policing programs and Aviator Fields is no exception … simply call 000 for assistance and wait to be told that the police are too busy to help you, and then head down to the nearest shopping centre (approx. 20 minute drive) to pick up a baseball bat to keep next to your bed,” the website says.
VPA outer Melbourne executive director Alix Rhodes said work would start on the precinct structure plan this year, including consultation Wyndham Council and community members.
“Our plan for Aviators Field will identify essential infrastructure required by the new community, including bike paths, town centres and open space,” she said.
Potential transport solutions would also be identified during the process, Ms Rhodes said.
The VPA did not respond to the Leader’s questions about how many people were expected to move into the precinct or whether new schools would be built to meet demand.
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