Footscray has all the ingredients to become one Melbourne’s strongest employment hubs. This includes excellent transport connections, proximity to Melbourne’s CBD, and vibrant local dining and amenity. Major upgrades like the Metro Tunnel, the West Gate Tunnel, and the new Footscray Hospital now make it even more connected and give it a more important role in Melbourne.

The Westgate Tunnel has removed large trucks from Footscray’s roads and the new $1.5b Footscray Hospital provides a world-class health facility with large flow-on economic benefits. With the adjacent establishment of Victoria University, the centre will take on a more important role for health and education into the future.

To build on this, more office space could be created to support more jobs and help grow professional services. Affordable housing and Build-to-Rent options would also be suited close to jobs and transport, especially for key workers like nurses and teachers. Council could also use an investment prospectus to promote Footscray as a place for business and new institutions by showcasing all it has to offer. The growing health sector around the new hospital should also be supported to create more jobs and growth in the surrounding area into the future.