By Tate Papworth
A former bus interchange in Alfrieda Street St Albans, is a step closer to becoming the neighbourhood’s centrepiece.
A civic plaza, located at the southern end of Alfrieda Street, has been given the green light by Brimbank council following community consultation showed support for the plan.
The $1.5 million project will include a stage for public events and entertainment, garden beds, shade trees and more picnic tables and chairs.
Cr Virginia Tachos said the project would be a boost for the area.
“The proposed civic plaza will be built on the site of the former St Albans bus interchange – a place that is desperately in need of activation,” she said. “At the moment, it is quite problematic in that it is attracting a lot of anti-social behaviors.”
The council had initially hoped for state government assistance in delivering the project and submitted two applications for funding to the Multicultural Community Infrastructure Fund. Both applications were unsuccessful.
However, the council has received $125,000 from the Level Crossing Removal Authority towards the site’s revamp and has allocated $500,000 in its 2018-19 budget for the
project. An additional $800,000 will be required and will be referred to the council’s annual budget for 2019-2020.
While consultation revealed support for the project, community members highlighted issues with carparking, double parking and traffic flow in general in the Alfrieda Street precinct.
The final draft was adopted by the council. The project will now move to a detailed design phase, followed by tendering for construction in 2019-20.
