My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Public Transport, and it is in relation to VicTrack’s work in refurbishing disused but historical train station buildings. Last week I had the pleasure of representing the minister in Dunkeld to officially open the newly refurbished Dunkeld train station building, following a $360 000 refurbishment funded by VicTrack’s community use of vacant rail buildings program.
This upgrade actually brought the station from being a 19th-century building to being a 21st-century one in that it now has amenities that will provide for a number of activities in the building. It is managed by the local group Off the Rails, which is an artistic community group. It is also heavily supported by the Dunkeld Progress Association.
As I understand it, there are quite a few historical railway buildings in the electorate of Western Victoria Region. I know that there are many communities that have started working out what they want to do with the usage of those buildings. They are wanting to know whether funding streams will be available so that they can pursue their vision and their dream for their local community.
The action that I seek from the minister is for her to provide me with a briefing and any other information that she may have so that I can be informed of the minister’s intention in relation to that program.