About 50 people took to the streets last Friday to voice their anger at VicRoads’ decision to discontinue licence tests and vehicle checks in Sunshine.
Rally organiser Peter Thomson said it was the first of a series of protests that would be held in a bid to have the services retained in Brimbank.
Mr Thomson spoke briefly to the crowd about the negative impact the changes would have.
“It’s unfair and crazy what they’re planning … building the new complex but closing down the licence testing part of it,” he said. “It’s going to cost jobs and it’s going to be a lot more expensive to have driving lessons.
“My big fear is that we’re going to get quite a few young people who will say ‘to hell with it’ and just drive unlicenced,” he said.
Mr Thomson is a volunteer speaker for Road Trauma Support Services Victoria. The car crash victim continues to rely on crutches 21 years after he was pinned between two cars after stopping to assist at the scene of a crash.
Early next year VicRoads will shift its existing north-west metropolitan office, which fronts Harvester Road, to Clarke Street, Sunshine.
Star Weekly revealed in October last year that the move would herald the end of driving tests and vehicle checks in Sunshine because VicRoads deems them “not a dominant transaction in Sunshine”.
The closest VicRoads offices to offer those services are Melton, Hoppers Crossing, Werribee, Sunbury or Broadmeadows.
Mr Thomson has started a petition calling for the services to be retained in Sunshine. It will be circulated at driving schools, nearby secondary schools, Brimbank libraries and leisure centres, before being tabled in Parliament soon.
RelatedApril 25, 2017: Protest organised over VicRoads’ move to stop driving tests in Sunshine
October 18, 2016: No drive tests or vehicle inspections at new VicRoads regional office in Sunshine
August 9, 2016: VicRoads plan eases parking woes in Sunshine
March 28, 2016: Sunshine VicRoads office to take 90 car spaces
