MELBOURNE'S growth areas need $10 billion spent on new education, transport and health services in the next 15 years or the city risks dividing between those with good access to services and job opportunities, and the rest, a report to be released on Wednesday warns.

The report, commissioned by Melbourne's outer suburban councils, shows their areas are characterised by ''low average incomes, poor educational and health outcomes, high unemployment rates and high levels of youth disengagement with regard to higher education and workforce participation''.

A dawn view of the Melbourne city skyline from Green's Point, Brighton. Credit:Penny Stephens

Melbourne planning expert Bill Chandler said Melbourne had to do better or there would be ''generations of disadvantage''. ''In the 1950s there were heartbreak streets, without proper roads, drainage and sewerage, now we have heartbreak suburbs that have roads and sewerage, but don't have proper community support services.''

The sobering One Melbourne or Two? report by Essential Economics found employment opportunities were particularly limited in the 10 councils that form Melbourne's outer urban ring or ''interface councils'', including Wyndham, Melton, Hume, Whittlesea, Yarra Ranges, Casey and Cardinia.