By LAURA WAKELY
THE REGIONAL Rail Link Authority (RRLA) says there is no guarantee that power poles will be placed through the HV McKay Gardens.
The RRLA is negotiating the acquisition of the historic gardens as part of the Anderson Rd grade separation works in Sunshine.
Earlier this month Friends of the HV McKay Gardens President Catherine McDonald said design plans would see the power poles along Anderson Rd relocated into the gardens to accommodate a three metre wide shared-use path (No opportunity, Star, 14 February).
An RRLA spokesperson told Star it would be necessary to relocate the power poles but that their “aim” was to place them away from the gardens.
“Discussions are continuing with the relevant power providers, which is feeding into our design development process,” the spokesperson said.
“Until such time as we have an agreement with the power providers we are not in a position to confirm outcomes, however all our parties are aware of the preference to locate the power poles away from the gardens.”
The RRLA has confirmed that a wedge of 136 square metres will be acquired from the gardens and that the historic gates will be moved back into the gardens 3.9 metres, while the heritage-listed footbridge will also be removed and replaced with a 66 metre long bridge located seven metres above the tracks.
Brimbank City Council and VicTrack will have shared responsibility for the new footbridge, but it’s yet to be decided who will pay the maintenance costs for the lifts in the bridge.
While Friends are calling on Heritage Victoria to “take a stand” against the grade separation plans, Sunshine Historical Society spokesperson Alan Dash said his group did not oppose the RRLA’s design.
“In our submission we’re preparing for Heritage Victoria, we’re going to say that’s ok, we would want to lose as little as possible,” Mr Dash said.
