Reported by Afia Khan
At a sold-out inaugural assembly, over 270 people from communities across Melbourne’s west came together in September to identify pressures they face in the West.
In partnership with the Real Deal Geelong Alliance, the Western Melbourne Alliance hosted its first Our West, Our Future Assembly in response to growing pressures impacting communities across the West.
Organisations including neighbourhood houses and community centres, faith communities, advocacy groups, environmental and climate organisations, unions, and multicultural organisations based in the West were present.
Decision makers in attendance were Labor MP for Werribee, John Lister, the Victorian Greens candidate for Western Metropolitan, Brittney Henderson, The West Party candidates for Western Metropolitan, Dr Joe Garra and Tarneit Andrew Elsbury, and the Liberals candidate for Tarneit, Venkat Ram Upparlapalle.
Political representatives listened to personal experiences shared across the room and gave responses at allocated times.
Cost of living and public transport emerged as the top key pressures in the community, followed by homelessness, mental health, and community safety.
Recent data from consulting firm Digital Finance Analytics, shows that Tarneit and Sydenham are among the top 10 suburbs in Melbourne with higher numbers of household mortgage stress.
And Melbourne’s West is known for its inadequate public transport network with fewer trains than other regions and some high population areas enduring 40-minute wait times for buses.
A report from the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office found that the Rockbank community of Mount Cottrell is ‘the most poorly served by the public transport network.’
“We do need to change the attitude so that we have more frequent buses along main roads,” says MP John Lister.
Migration emerged as a topic as well, but not as a divisive issue. According to the CEO of the Norlane Community Centre, Esther Konings-Oakes, the alliance has gathered together a strong multicultural community..
“This is going to be a real force for change,” says Konings-Oakes.
MP John Lister says the contribution migrants make to his electorate, particularly to public services, is essential.
“Our hospital wouldn’t run if it wasn’t for people who come from overseas and choose to build their life here,” says Lister.
Dr Joe Garra from the West Party says he’s concerned about the racist undertones of some of the migration policies from parties like One Nation.
The Western Melbourne Alliance is growing their community listening campaign ‘Our West Listens’. It’s encouri organisations to host their own talks to build relationships, develop community leaders, and identify communities with shared priorities.
On Saturday the 31st of October, the Alliance will be running a training session for West-based organisations on hosting table talks. The training will run from 2-4pm at the Wyndham Park Community Centre in Werribee.
