Ringwood railway station $15 million carpark planned for site of Blood Brothers bottle shop
For 100 years it’s dominated a corner of Ringwood. But now this historic bottle shop close to the railway station could be about to sell its last six-pack.
Outer East
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A Ringwood bottle shop which has stood for more than 100 years has an unclear future under plans to build a giant multi-deck carpark for commuters.
Maroondah Council has picked the site on the corner of Bedford and Warrandyte roads for the 480-spot carpark after it was promised $15 million in Federal Government funding in February 2019.
The site is next to Ringwood railway station and is home to the historic Blood Brothers building, which was built in 1914.
Part of the building is used as a Celebrations drive-through bottle shop.
The council voted to discontinue the road on the site in June to progress its planning for the carpark project.
Donna Mackinnon, who plans to contest the new Wonga ward at the October 24 council elections, started a petition this week for the council to find a different site.
The petition led to widespread discussion on community Facebook groups and had received nearly 570 signatures as of 10am on Friday.
Ms Mackinnon felt the building was “significant as an example of Edwardian corner shop architecture” and feared it was destined for the wrecking ball.
“Commuters want more carparking, but a significant heritage building should not be bulldozed to provide it,” she wrote.
“Council should be building this on current carpark sites at Ringwood station.”
Cr Nora Lamont, who is also set to run for Wonga ward, took to her councillor Facebook page to address “misinformation” she felt was circling in the community.
Cr Lamont said the site had a heritage overlay which was still in place and an external consultant would be hired to assess the site for the proposed carpark.
“It will then go out to the public for comment and consultation at which time everyone in the community can have their say about the plans and what that might look like and whether they approve or disapprove,” she wrote.
Cr Lamont later responded to a commenter’s query and said “nothing is set in stone”.
A staff member at the bottle shop was unaware of the plans when Maroondah Leader visited on Thursday and didn’t comment further.
Readers on Maroondah Leader’s Facebook page had ideas on alternative sites for the carpark.
Damian Buzza suggested removing the Midway Arcade on Maroondah Highway, with an underground pedestrian link to the station.
Austin Smith thought it could be built on the corner of Wantirna Rd at the former home of mechanic Alpine Affaire, where a small carpark already exists.
The council was contacted for comment.
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