VicRoads fight to continue

The lobby group fighting to keep licence tests and vehicle checks in Sunshine has vowed to continue the fight, despite VicRoads moving into its new office on February 26.

VicRoads announced last year it would cease conducting licence tests and vehicle checks when it moved away from its Ballarat Road premises.

Peter Thomson, who has organised a number of protest rallies against the decision, said the move won’t slow momentum of resistance.

“If they [VicRoads] think that moving office is going to stop us, then I’ve got news for them,” Mr Thomson said.

“We’ll be holding another rally at the new office towards the end of February. There’s not much space there – so if it disrupts traffic, then bad luck.

“This is a rapidly growing area – if anything, we need an extra facility for these services, not the withdrawal of the one we have.

“There are a large number of driving instructors in this area who are going to be severely affected by this move, not to mention those looking to go for their licence. It won’t be easy, but I’m quietly confident we will win this fight.”

But VicRoads said it had almost completed the redirection of drive test appointments from Sunshine to customer service centres at neighbouring suburbs.

It has also committed to exploring options to deliver specialist services to disadvantaged customers.

In an indicator that the VicRoads licensing and vehicle checks services are in high demand, last month Brimbank mayor Margaret Giudice celebrated the 100th person to gain their
licence through learner driver mentor program L2P.

“During the past eight years, we’ve had 82 volunteer mentors participate in the program, leading to an amazing 6400 driving lessons,” she said.