Page 3380 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 14 November 2007
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
an opportunity, as previous speakers have done, to acknowledge the very good, fine work that has been done by members of the Australian Railway Historical Society over a long time—over at least four decades. It also provides an opportunity to acknowledge the contribution that members of the society have made to preserving a very significant piece of cultural heritage for all Canberrans to enjoy.
The government recognises the importance of rail heritage in the ACT in providing a valuable link with our industrial past. Through the work of Heritage ACT, the government has demonstrated its commitment to preserving and promoting Canberra’s history and conserving the ACT’s heritage assets for present and future generations. As Mr Gentleman has rightly pointed out, the railway has made an important contribution to the construction of some of Canberra’s key landmarks. It is through the ongoing work of organisations such as the Australian Railway Historical Society that we are able to readily access that history.
The ACT division of the Australian Railway Historical Society makes an important contribution to Canberra and the region through its efforts to preserve heritage in support of rail services and its active promotion of rail tourism. That is highlighted by its significant work on restoring historic locomotives, carriages and rail items—particularly locomotive 1210, the first revenue-earning train for Canberra, an item recognised on the ACT heritage register; its support for rail services through the maintenance of the Michelago tourist railway and other rail infrastructure in the region; its operation of the CountryLink ticketing agency from the Queanbeyan station; its operation of the Canberra Railway Museum and heritage rail trips in the ACT region and around Australia; and its maintenance of a significant library archive collection.
In relation to the society’s present location in East Lake, which is the subject of an amendment by Dr Foskey, Mr Gentleman alluded to the fact that there are currently a number of planning processes underway in relation to the site in East Lake. The East Lake urban renewal precinct is identified in the Canberra spatial plan as an area of urban intensification, and this includes for consideration the existing railway yards at Kingston. The ACT Planning and Land Authority is undertaking a number of projects that will shape the future of the precinct. The East Lake draft planning report has been released and is open for public consultation until 23 November 2007. There is the preparation of an ACT railway master plan study, and the government is also working with the CSIRO on a joint project in East Lake to showcase sustainable urban design.
The East Lake draft planning report notes that planning for East Lake should consider the long-term future and needs of rail operations in the ACT, particularly in relation to land requirements, patronage, operations and the quality of heavy rail services. It also indicates that the key planning consideration for East Lake is to rationalise this infrastructure into an integrated precinct that provides for the most efficient use of land by retaining the operational requirements for a railway in the ACT.
The railway master plan will consider the existing arrangements and future needs of historic passenger and freight rail services, facilities and infrastructure within the ACT. The key objective of the work is to make recommendations to government on how best to deliver rail services that meet the current and future needs of the
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .