A decade on from being spruiked as the future "Glen Waverley of the west", the outer western suburb of Mount Atkinson continues to be neglected by the Labor Government.
Residents who live in the area, which is located in the City of Melton 23km northwest from Melbourne's central business district, remain without schools, shops, public transport and in a fresh blow, abandoned plans for a Westfield Shopping Centre that was seven years in the making.
Mount Atkinson is surrounded by undeveloped land on all sides. Residents must drive on the Western Highway to neighbouring suburbs such as Caroline Springs and Melton for the nearest supermarket, whilst Hopkins Road, the main feeder road in and out of the estate has one lane in each direction and no footpaths.
In 2016, the State Government's Victorian Planning Authority said the precinct would be serviced by "a potential future train station ... feeder bus routes, as well as major arterial roads and freeways". Today only a shuttle bus service, arranged by the property developer, is in operation offering six services a day to Rockbank train station, while the nearest bus stop involves a walk of up to 50 minutes.
Shadow Minister for Outer Suburban Growth, Evan Mulholland, said: "Despite the fact the city of Melton is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Australia, Labor is continuing to neglect the people who live there and have put the Melton line upgrade in the too-hard basket.
"Labor cannot manage money, cannot manage infrastructure and Victorians living in the growth areas of Melbourne are paying the price."
Member for Western Metropolitan Region, Trung Luu, said: "The Allan Labor Government continues to recklessly spend money on projects that won't help those living in Melbourne's west who are without basic infrastructure and services and deserve better.
"Ten years ago, this area was spruiked to be a vibrant suburb and nothing has been delivered under Labor, demonstrating their inability to manage growth and prioritise those who live in Western Melbourne."
