By Max Hatzoglou
The Sunshine Silos will be transformed into a vibrant community destination, according to a draft masterplan for the site.
The masterplan was unevilled during a community meeting on Tuesday, March 15.
The site, built between 1965 and 1977, is no longer in use and the owners want options assessed to make it more accessible to the community.
The masterplan hopes to make the silos an urban landmark incorporating hospitality venues and services.
For the masterplan to be implemented, the site will need to be rezoned from industrial to multi-purpose.
Senior urban designer Will Priestley said the existing silos would need to be knocked down as there weren’t strong enough to be used safely.
He said the silos would be reinterpreted in the new construction.
“We are also really keen on reinterpreting the concrete silos that are on the site and maintaining it as a landmark role in a new building, that’s a contemporary interpretation of the silos,” he said.
Mr Priestley said the plan was to transform the silos site into a mixed-use neighbourhood.
“We think there is a real opportunity for quite a vibrant local destination on the edge of one of the biggest parks in Sunshine and in an area where there is a great opportunity to celebrate the history of Sunshine with something quite special (silos) at the end of that park,” he said.
“We think there is an opportunity for a really exciting active ground level.”
Mr Priestley spoke about some of the features that would come with the new project.
“A key part would be providing public access all the way along our interface with the park to connect surrounding areas.
“We would also be looking at some hospitality uses on ground level so people can get a coffee next to the park.
“We are also looking at uses that enhance the recreation role at JR Parsons reserve, we know there are a lot of sports clubs that use the reserves so we were wondering whether we would have uses such as a fitness centre, gym or physio that would help elevate the site as a sports hub.”
Details: bit.ly/3whvtEP
