Tara Murray
Brimbank council has welcomed the state government’s vision and framework for the development of the Sunshine Precinct as part of the Melbourne Airport Rail.
The Sunshine precinct opportunity statement identifies strengths and opportunities to inform how the local community will live, work, and play in Sunshine into the future.
The Sunshine transport superhub will create linkages to the Melbourne Airport Rail, Metro Tunnel and Suburban Rail Loop, once all the projects are completed.
The overall Sunshine precinct is split into three smaller areas: Sunshine and Albion train stations and the Sunshine CBD.
“Sunshine Station will become an integrated part of a renewed Sunshine,” the statement said.
“It will be surrounded by and connect new homes, workplaces and shops via a network of green, pedestrian-focused streets and public spaces.
“The Albion Precinct provides an opportunity to support the next generation of jobs, innovation and services in Melbourne. Improving amenity, connectivity and integration with the train station will see Albion transformed into a new centre in Melbourne’s west.
“[The] Sunshine Central Business District will be a thriving and diverse civic hub, with a network of bustling streets and public spaces framed with distinctive buildings. Increased housing, shops and services will support an active day-and-night economy, and strengthen existing cultural and community ties.”
The document said that substantial investments in rail alone will not be enough to realise Sunshine’s potential.
Among the objectives of the state government is developing Sunshine as a major employment centre, leveraging major rail investment, providing a greater diversity of jobs and intensifying employment activity, ensuring neighbourhoods provide a range of dwelling choices and delivering high quality, attractive and safe connections, to, through and within Sunshine.
The statement highlighted the potential growth in the area.
It said currently there were 10,000 dwellings and 27,000 residents. Under a target case, it’s hoped that there will be 26,000 dwellings and 70,000 residents by 2051.
The statement also outlines a plan to create between 20,000 and 50,000 new jobs across the precinct over the next 30 years.
Mayor Jasmine Nguyen said the state government has listened to the council and residents.
“This statement is recognition of the huge efforts of council and the community in advocating to government, in particular over the last 12 month including our ‘Let’s Build It Better’ campaign.
“Through extensive engagement and collaboration with many key stakeholders, we have been successful in making sure that transport infrastructure coming to our city is about community not just commuters and peoples not just places.
“Sunshine is set to become the jewel in the crown of Melbourne’s west and this document helps lay the important first steps to transform our city, to improve lives and livelihoods and create positive and lasting change.
“It’s really clear if we plan well and the infrastructure and development is first class then Sunshine thrives, and the whole of Melbourne’s west thrives.”
Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said the state government was getting on with delivering better transport connections for Melbourne’s growing west, while St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman said that this is really exciting news for Sunshine.
Details: engage.vic.gov.au/sunshine
