Sunshine’s Hampshire Road is set to be transformed into a boulevard-style shopping and entertainment precinct in a bid to bolster activity in the Sunshine Town Centre.
Releasing its Hampshire Road master plan last week, Brimbank council detailed plans to upgrade the road in four stages and “several financial years”, rebranding it as Sunshine’s premier thoroughfare.
Hampshire Road, which includes Sunshine Plaza, Sunshine Marketplace, strip shopping, new multi-level apartment blocks and Sunshine railway station, will be turned into a pedestrian and cyclist-friendly strip that will include a town square, civic green, public art and improved lighting.
Wide footpaths will be laid to encourage on-street trading, dining and special areas that can be closed to through-traffic for events such as markets or festivals.
Stage one works, tipped to cost about $670,000, will take place between Devonshire Road and Dickson Street next year and include an events space and re-establishment of underpass access to the station plaza for cyclists.
Administrator Jane Nathan said she was thrilled at the prospect of overhauling Hampshire Road.
“It’s quite exciting [to have] the opportunity to create a community atmosphere that enhances access to, and enjoyment of, the Sunshine Town Centre by all age groups,” Ms Nathan said.
“The urban design, we hope, will lead to a rejuvenated road with enhanced shopfronts, diversity of traders and increased discretionary spending.”
The master plan was created after community consultation that revealed residents, visitors and traders wanted to see more trees and landscaping along Hampshire Road, as well as improved lighting, lawns, seating, outdoor dining capacity and shared zones.
