Page 6 The Moorabool News – 11 January, 2022
News
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
Station plans on track By Lachlan Ellis Initial designs for the restoration of Lal Lal Railway Station have been released, with the community given the chance to provide its input. In July, the State Government promised funding for the station under the Community Use of Vacant Rail Buildings Program, with plans to make the disused building into a community hub and neighbourhood house. Photos of the proposed works were uploaded on the Lal Lal Community social media page, where a few locals gave their thoughts. “Looking great. Will be good to see this building getting some love. Now for the pub,” Carmel said. “Looks great but maybe the toilet could be better placed perhaps closer to the information room, so the public have better access to it?” Natalie suggested. “I think you have to go with the spaces that are there, not do too much structural change. You would also need to know where the water is,” Kay responded. In late November, the Lal Lal Community Hub Committee met to discuss proposed works, which include installation of fences along the roadway and platform, the removal of partitions for a new exhibition space, and the installation of a kitchenette. Under the proposed plans, the restored station building will also feature two meeting spaces/ offices, an office for the local Landcare group, a tearoom, and a visitor information centre. Lal Lal resident Geoff Hewitt said the community was excited to finally get the ball rolling on the restoration works. “Representatives of the Committee met onsite with Shire and VicTrack representatives in November to have a brief tour of the station, before meeting at the Lal Lal Hall to discuss a draft plan with the site architect. At that meeting a number of issues pertaining to the plan and the site were raised and discussed,” Mr Hewitt told the Moorabool News. “Broadly speaking, the Committee is happy with the proposed refurbishment because it retains or repairs the historic façade and interior and provides for a number of meeting rooms and office space, together with a visitor’s information room and exhibition space. That will provide a focal point for proposed tourism related projects in the area, a meeting place for community groups and opportunities for arts related activities and displays,” he said. Mr Hewitt said VicTrack aims to open the project for tender early in the new year and hopes to have the refurbishment completed by August – September 2022. The Lal Lal community has been campaigning for funding for the station for over a decade, with a commitment in 2018 of over $800,000 for the restoration, unfortunately this was not delivered. However, at the July funding announcement this year, VicTrack representative Jean Parson said there was a “firm commitment” from the State Government this time around, with $9 million to be shared between 10 projects including Lal Lal’s. “We’ve got the proposal, it has been accepted, you’ve got a letter in writing confirming that, so there’s no doubt about it, you are in the program for the second tranche which is for this current financial year,” Ms Parson said. According to VicTrack, all works under the Community Use of Vacant Rail Buildings Program “are scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2022”. A sign on Eaglesons Road states that Lal Lal Railway Station was “disestablished as a staffed station in 1983”.
Earlier this year, (M/News 27 July), Cr Paul Tatchell, Michaela Settle MP, and Gavin Barker celebrated the $800,000 funding announcement to renovate the historic train station into a community hub. Photo – Helen Tatchell
Lucky number seven for subdivision By Lachlan Ellis Seven is a lucky number for some, and after another approval at Council, a Gordon landowner will get a seventh permit to develop their land. The application for a three-lot subdivision and vegetation removal at 18 Lyndhurst Street, Gordon, came before Council’s 15 December Development Assessment Committee, and was approved unanimously. Previously, a permit for development of a dwelling and removal of vegetation was issued in 2011, a permit for a two-lot subdivision in 2012, and another permit for development of a dwelling and removal of vegetation in 2017. None of these permits were acted on and all expired, with three extensions approved on the 2017 permit, the last of which required commencement of work by 23 October 2021. The lot will now be subdivided into three lots: Lot 1 with an area of 954 sq m, Lot 2 with an area of 953 sq m, and Lot 3 with an area of 1,795 sq m. A poplar and two pine trees will be removed from Lot 2, however, 12 native trees will be planted to replace them. Two objectors wrote to Council, with flood risk a major concern of both objectors. However, a Flood Impact Assessment Report was completed and approved by the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA), with conditions applied to mitigate flood risk on the three lots. “It is considered that the risk associated with the flood hazard can be managed to an acceptable extent to ensure that development of the site is not unreasonably impacted by flooding,” one of the Council Officer’s Responses read. All Councillors voted in favour of the recommendation before them.