Tara Murray
The Friends of H.V Mckay Memorial Garden have refuted claims they support changes to the heritage-listed gardens as part of the Melbourne Airport Rail Link plans.
As reported by Star Weekly, the project, which will connect a rail line from Sunshine through to the airport, will mean changes to the garden.
Some residents have raised concerns about the impact of the rail project on the gardens.
Rail Projects Victoria has applied to Heritage Victoria for a permit to begin work to reconfigure the rail tracks on an area of VicTrack land next to the gardens.
The application was open for comment until March 21.
Earlier this month, a Rail Projects Victoria spokesperson told Star Weekly they recognise a few people in the area are opposed to the project but those views does not represent either the Sunshine and Albion community, nor the Friends of HVMcKay Gardens organisation.
The friends group were among those to put a submission into Heritage Victoria.
“Contrary to statements to the press from representatives of Melbourne Airport Rail (MAR) the friends group does not support the proposal as outlined in the heritage impact statement presented to Heritage Victoria by MAR,” the group said in a statement.
“We have attended consultations with MAR in good faith, and based on the information provided, and assurances given in earlier meetings, we are gravely concerned about the impact of the proposal on the cultural heritage significance of the state heritage registered H V McKay Memorial Gardens and Church, and on the peaceful enjoyment of this important resource for the Brimbank community.
“While we do not oppose an airport rail we oppose it in its current proposed form.”
The group said it was deeply concerned about the lack of detail in the heritage impact statement and it doesn’t agree with ‘batter’ construction which will remove from the gardens an area previously used for decades.
The group also doesn’t agree with the removal or relocation of heritage infrastructure from the earliest period of the gardens, the removal of original plantings nor the re-configuration of the entry to the northern section of the gardens.
Brimbank council also made a submission, which was tabled at last week’s council meeting, stating the lack of certainty around the final outcome of tree removal was a great concern.
A Rail Projects Victoria spokesperson said they appreciate the significance and importance of the gardens.
“We’re confident the selected design will minimise impacts to these cherished local gardens, create space for more plants and trees and better reflect the original garden design.”
