Tara Murray
The “iconic” Sunshine Silos could be protected from demolition after councillors voted to seek an interim heritage overlay for the site.
The council called a special council meeting last Thursday to discuss the future of the silos, after receiving an application to demolish them and related structures on the site at 2 Wright Street, Sunshine.
While the applicant withdrew the application to demolish the buildings the day before the council meeting, the meeting still proceeded.
Councillors voted to ask Planning Minister Richard Wynne to apply an interim heritage overlay to the site for 12 months, and to seek to apply a permanent heritage overlay to the site once the necessary requirements are met.
The resolution enables the council to suspend a demolition permit application in relation to the steel silos and related structures on the site until the minister makes a decision on the interim heritage overlay.
City development director Kelvin Walsh told the council meeting that the owners of the site said they didn’t mean to cause any unnecessary angst with the application, and that they wanted to work collaboratively with the council and the community on the future of the site.
The site was sold late last year.
Cr Bruce Lancashire said while the demolition application had been withdrawn, it was still important to put the interim heritage overlay in place to ensure the council didn’t receive any further applications for demolition on the site.
Mayor Ranka Rasic said that the council understood the Sunshine Silos were cherished by the local community and a significant urban landmark within the City of Brimbank.
“Council wants to both celebrate and protect our rich culture and history, and seeking the interim heritage controls is an important step in making sure that these iconic silos remain a feature of our landscape for this and future generations to enjoy.”
Greater Sunshine Community Alliance’s Stephen Torsi said so much history had already been lost in the community.
The group wrote to Mr Wynne earlier this year seeking protection for the site.
“They are worth saving,” he said.
“We’ve seen what has happened with other silo sites. Some have been painted and turned into tourism sites.
“The silos project last year was a good example of what they could be and see what the site is used for.”
Mr Torsi said there were a number of different purposes the site could be used for and called for the community to be involved in any decisions.
