Sunshine leaders express concern over Struggle Street documentary reports

Sunshine community leaders admit they’re concerned by reports a controversial television series is being filmed in the area.

It’s understood the documentary program Struggle Street, broadcast by SBS, has been test-filming for a new series in Melbourne’s west.

The first series of the show, based at Mt Druitt in Sydney, was met with plenty of criticism.

Many said the show misrepresented the community.

Bruce White, Sunshine Business Association president, told Neil Mitchell he was expecting the same thing to happen again.

‘Am I worried? I’m only worried in the sense that people who don’t know the area will accept as truth, what SBS will portray,’ he said on 3AW Mornings.

LISTEN: Bruce White says ‘bad news sells’ 

Darlene Reilly, who is president of Sunshine’s Residents and Ratepayers Association, told 3AW Breakfast she wasn’t entirely sold by the idea either.

‘This is the first I’ve heard of it, but my reaction is kind of mixed,’ she said.

‘I know that with the gentrification of Sunshine and people that live here and work here and have renovated their houses ? they really wouldn’t want to see a really negative portrayal of the area.’

LISTEN: 3AW Breakfast explores reports Struggle St is coming to Sunshine