Tara Murray
The Melbourne Airport Rail Link will negatively impact the John Darling Flour Mill according to Brimbank council.
Rail Projects Victoria has submitted an application for a heritage permit for works associated with the project, including construction of a section of the Albion-Sunshine viaduct and ground plane works.
The council made a submission to the application which was included the agenda at last week’s council meeting. The state government has decided an above ground solution is best suited to this project.
“The major negative impact on the flour mill site will be on key views to the complex when approaching from the east along Ballarat Road, with the tower of the brick mill building and the concrete silos currently providing a landmark skyline,” the council’s submission said.
“View diagrams have not been provided with the plans, nor have elevations of the elevated track and pier when viewed from the east or west, so we do not know the height of the track and associated superstructure between piers.”
The council submission questioned whether there would be solid sound-screens along the entire length of the elevated tracks.
The council also expressed concerns about the visual implications of the fly over, along with noise impacts that may make it difficult for the adaptive reuse, and long-term conservation, of the flour mill.
“If the operation of the elevated airport rail line detracts from the amenity of this building – in terms of increased noise levels and loss of views to and from the building – this may “derail” current efforts to create a hotel in the flour mill,” it said.
The council submission said that the proposed works will also be adjacent to locally significant places protected in Brimbank’s heritage overlay in Talmage Street, Albion.
The council said the application has not considered the broader traffic impact onto the residential areas along Ferguson and Talmage Streets, and flow on effect to the Ballarat Road Service Road, Sydney Street and Derrimut Street.
It is calling for a a traffic assessment should be submitted as part of this application to fully understand the broader traffic impacts of this new connection.
