Places of historic and cultural significance could be revived as dedicated performance spaces under a plan to make Sunshine the capital of the west.
In 2010, Brimbank council set up Sunshine Rising, a five-year town centre management and revitalisation program to deliver on its vision of Sunshine as “one of Melbourne’s great centres”.
While the program has achieved 91 per cent of a possible 101 outcomes, some goals linger on a longer-term council wishlist.
The council will review a local law on busking next year to encourage street performances. It will also consider setting up a ‘working museum’, including place markers and interpretative signage at sites of historic and cultural significance.
The wishlist recommends a review of Sunshine town centre trading hours and a look at the viability of a fresh food market.
City development director Stuart Menzies said the council would continue to lobby for Albion station’s upgrade and its pivotal role as part of a Melbourne Airport rail link as the town becomes a national employment cluster.
Brimbank administrators chairman John Watson said Sunshine was re-emerging on the back of the plan.
“The town centre is already on its way to being established as one of Melbourne’s great centres” Mr Watson said.
“These achievements will reinforce it as a designated metropolitan activity centre and national employment cluster under Plan Melbourne.
“Highlights of the past year included popular events and activities such as the Sunshine Business Association’s popular Sunshine Short-Film Festival, the Sunshine Lantern Festival and Sunshine Pho Fever, all of which were successful in attracting visitors.
“A good start was also made in improving lighting in the town centre, encouraging more evening activity and addressing perceptions of safety, and the Light Up Sunshine program delivered by council in partnership with the Sunshine Business Association.”
“We also have a cleaner town centre with a focus on the public realm,” Mr Watson said.
“The Reflexio Qualis public art [three polished stainless-steel installations that reflect anyone who interacts with them] is improving the ambience of the centre.”
