Roti Ria restaurant’s Ailing Tan, Brimbank Council Administrator Meredith Sussex and Sunshine Business Association’s Bruce White celebrated the reopening of Hampshire Square last week. 74771 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By Laura Wakely
SUNSHINE received an early Christmas present last week with the opening of Hampshire Square.
The site has undergone a $3.2 million makeover as part of the Sunshine Rising program, which aims to revitalise the town centre.
The square opened on Thursday 15 December after seven months of works that included ramps, pedestrian crossing and seating.
Although Chair of Brimbank City Council’s Administrators Peter Lewinsky said the council would hold an official opening in February next year, he said he wanted the works to be finished before Christmas.
“Christmas trading is the busiest time of the year for retail businesses and restaurants and we wanted to make sure that Hampshire Square was open so businesses and shoppers could take full advantage of the new and inviting space in front of Sunshine Plaza,” Mr Lewinsky said.
He said the months of construction had caused some inconvenience to residents and businesses but that it had all been “worth it”.
“Previously, it wasn’t all that easy for shoppers to enter Sunshine Plaza from Hampshire Road on foot – the steep steps and ramps were off-putting, especially for older folk and or people with prams and shopping carts,” Mr Lewinsky said.
“Now, the whole area has been opened up, thanks to easily accessible ramps and terraced steps.
“We hope that retail sales over the holiday period go some way to making up for the disruption to normal trading.”
He said the steps and wooden seats were perfect for rest and meeting spots, while the decorative paving, light poles, balustrades and plant life had livened the look of the place.
The square also has new pedestrian crossings and SmartBus stops.
“We’re already ‘walkin’ on Sunshine’, as the song goes,” Mr Lewinsky said.
Hampshire Square was funded by the council with the Department of Planning and Community Development and Sunshine Plaza.
