By Max Hatzoglou
Former Brimbank mayor John Hedditch has raised several concerns about the proposed plans for the new Sunshine Precinct which he labels as “a master plan based on really poor planning”.
The Sunshine Precinct draft masterplan was released on March 7, consisting of nine different projects which would change the current landscape of the area in and around the Sunshine Station.
Changes proposed included transforming the Hampshire Road exit on the bridge into a bike/footpath and moving the bus interchange to the existing car park next to the station on the east side.
The community was invited to provide feedback on the plan through online surveys.
Hedditch, who is a part of the Victorian Transport Action Group, raised concerns that insufficient funding and planning in the precinct would cause significant long term issues in the community.
“It’s all about getting the cheapest possible railway project through Sunshine and nothing about how we make the precinct better,” Hedditch said.
“And because they haven’t done their homework properly, we have been left with the cheapest possible option.
“There will be long term problems with land use and disconnection of the city.”
Hedditch, who has lived in Sunshine for over 30 years, said the proposed changes to the Harvester Road bridge would cause major congestion issues.
“People won’t be able to get around easily and some of the masterplan actually makes it worse by closing down the Harvester Road exit on the bridge and bringing in the footbridge.
“Bringing in the footbridge is a good idea but closing down the harvester road is a shocker.
“It was built 20 years ago to reduce congestion that was happening all the way up to west Sunshine and down to Wright street.
“It was actually built to decongest Sunshine and now what will happen is it will get congested again even more.
“And it takes all the traffic into the CBD when Harvester Road takes the traffic around it.
“The people who built this don’t know Sunshine.”
Hedditch said cost cutting was hindering the potential to build a separate footbridge across the rail line.
“It’s not expensive, it’s just pure bastardry really, they just don’t want to spend a dollar out here.”
Hedditch also mentioned major issues with moving the new bus interchange to an area that is smaller than the existing interchange.
“What we’re going to have is an expansion of bus services over the years which will need more space and currently there is not enough space for the existing one, yet they have made it smaller,” he said.
“It just shows the lack of understanding of what’s been going on in this place.
“They have gone from it being an undersized bus terminal to an even smaller one.”
In response to these potential issues that were made aware to state government, a government spokesperson said they encourage locals to have their say.
“We’re encouraging locals to have their say on how we can best plan for the future of the area around Sunshine Station – with all feedback critical to ensuring it’s done right,” Hedditch said.
“Whether you walk, ride or take public transport – we’re asking locals near Sunshine Station to tell us what’s important to them for the future of this key connection in the west.”
Hedditch hopes for an independent expert review of the planning to occur.
“We’re looking for an independent expert panel review pulled together by the minister for planning before any of this stuff gets built,” Hedditch said.
“A master plan based on really poor planning is not what this community needs.
“It needs a masterplan that’s been based on quality long term strategic planning that gives this place a chance to transform into a really beaut place by 2050.
“At the moment the planning that is being done is so poor that a masterplan based on it doesn’t give anyone any comfort.”
