City of Wyndham urges job creation as East Werribee project canned

A stalled $30 billion project in Melbourne’s west has officially been rejected. So where does that leave the promised hi-tech jobs bonanza?

An artist’s impression of the Australian Education City. Picture: Supplied

The Andrews Government has confirmed it will not proceed with a consortium’s hi-tech city proposal for the western suburbs.

As revealed by the Herald Sun, the proposed $30 billion Australian Education City plan

on public land at East Werribee has been dumped.

A statement was released by Priority Precincts Minister Gavin Jennings this afternoon.

“Following careful examination, the Australian Education City proposal for the East Werribee Employment Precinct will not proceed,” he said.

An artist’s impression of the Australian Education City project for East Werribee. Picture: Supplied

“The Government thanks the Australian Education City group, including local and international partners, for its time and involvement in the project and process.”

“With the continued growth in Melbourne’s West, the Government will undertake further work to better understand the investment required to support the region’s transport infrastructure needs, particularly in light of its commitment to the Suburban Rail Loop and Melbourne Airport Rail Link.”

Mr Jennings said the government acknowledged the importance of strengthening ties between universities and industry in Melbourne’s west, and increasing job opportunities.

“There has been significant investment and job creation in the East Werribee precinct with the $95 million St Vincent’s Private Hospital development creating 102 jobs and the $85 million expansion of the Werribee Mercy Hospital creating 171 positions,” he said.”

“ With other investments, thousands of jobs have been injected into the area.”

“The Government will continue to explore ways of maximising Werribee’s potential as a vibrant and attractive precinct, designed with people in mind.”

The statement did not mention any possible compensation for the millions of dollars invested by AEC consortium as preferred bidder for the site.

JOBS PLEA TO SAVE WERRIBEE SUPER CITY

A key jobs hub must be part of any plan to replace the seemingly doomed $30 billion “super city” proposal in the western suburbs, says a local council.

The City of Wyndham is worried land earmarked for the Australian Education City project could be sold for housing instead of being used by industries to create work.

Sources have indicated the project stalled amid conflicting views within government about its viability and growing concern about Chinese investment in the ambitious venture.

The concept, led by AEC consortium boss Bill Zheng, boasted of a hi-tech precinct with up to 100,000 jobs and 50,000 local and foreign university students and apartment buildings.

Wyndham Council director of deals, investments and major projects Kate Roffey, urged the government not to sell the land just for housing.

“It’s a major focal point for jobs creation, and we’re desperately in need of jobs to alleviate the transport congestion problem, which is never going to get any better unless we get jobs in the local area,” she said.

Ms Roffey said AEC’s business model was sound, so it was preferable any new plan comprised high-level education linked with industry.

AEC was chosen as preferred bidder for the education and jobs precinct in November 2015.

But progress on the plan stalled for years.

Kate Roffey says it is preferable any new plan comprises high-level education linked with industry. Picture: Mark Stewart

A source familiar with the process said the government was keen on universities for the outer west but was concerned about Chinese investment backing for the project amid an increasingly assertive China in foreign affairs.

MORE: FUTURE MELBOURNE

GREEN FUTURE FOR MELBOURNE’S OUTER SUBURBS

Opposition priority precincts spokesman David Davis said the government had many questions to answer, such as how much taxpayers’ money would go to compensate the consortium.

“Where does this leave the national employment cluster at Werribee, and will the Andrews Labor Government recover the millions of dollars it has contributed to the land’s development?” he said.

[e-mail]

@JMasanauskas