Residents continue to protest against the Regional Rail Link acquisition of the HV McKay Gardens. 79748 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By LAURA WAKELY
HERITAGE Victoria received 40 submissions in response to the Regional Rail Link (RRL) Authority’s acquisition of HV McKay Gardens in Sunshine.
Public submissions closed last Wednesday for the plan, which will see around 136 square metres taken from the gardens to accommodate the grade separation of Anderson Rd.
Friends of the HV McKay Gardens president Catherine McDonald said she hoped Heritage Victoria “do their duty” and stop the RRL Authority’s plans, which also include relocating the gates to the gardens, replacing the footbridge and creating a three metre wide shared pedestrian and cycling path along the perimeter of the park.
In their submission, the friends group said the RRL Authority’s impact statement contained “errors of fact, (and) only provides a superficial and inadequate analysis” of how their design would impact on the gardens.
The friends group also held a rally in the gardens last Tuesday against the acquisition and Ms McDonald said the community had been “very supportive” of the their stance.
“People who hear about it and know about it think it’s a ridiculous,” she said.
“They (RRL Authority) make it up as they go along and as a consequence they make a mess of it.”
A spokesperson for the RRL Authority said consultation would continue until a design that “provides the community with an optimal solution that best satisfies the competing interests of the various stakeholders” was found.
Recent changes to the “evolving” design include relocating powerlines – a move required to accommodate the three metre shared path – underground rather than through the gardens.
The authority is also considering installing ramps on the footbridge instead of lifts, after concerns that Brimbank Council would be left to foot the bill for maintaining the lifts.
The Sunshine Historical Society also made a submission to Heritage Victoria, but Star was unable to contact the group before going to print.
However, member Alan Dash previously said the group would not oppose the RRL plans.
A Heritage Victoria spokesperson said the executive director would now consider the submissions and application, and will invite the RRL Authority to address any issues.
No date has been set for Heritage Victoria’s decision.
