Horsham rail corridor set for clean up

The surrounds of Horsham Railway Station will undergo landscaping works this year as part of a wider effort to clean up the rail corridor.

Land either side of the station building between the Kalkee Road overpass and Wawunna Road is set to be improved with a row of large established trees, demolition of sheds, the renewal of garden beds and a general clean up.

While VicTrack owns the railway corridor, Council has leased the area south of track and has committed $66,000 in its 2021-2022 Budget for the works.

“The railway corridor has a long way to go before it is fully remediated but we believe that enhancing the land either side of the station will make a significant difference to the aesthetics of the broader area,” Mayor Robyn Gulline said.

“Following discussions with community stakeholders, we decided to add the $66,000 to the budget to get something happening, which is what many residents have wanted for a long time.

Meanwhile, there is good news about the land north of the railway as well.

“Australian Rail Track Corporation leases that area, and following recent meetings, it has committed to clean up works,” Cr Gulline said.

“These include general rubbish and graffiti removal as well as the removal of the concrete structure that sits directly opposite the platform.”

The now disused railway yards became obsolete to contemporary transport needs when Wimmera Intermodal Freight Hub at Dooen became fully operational.

The transfer and storage of fuel happened there for many years and testing has revealed contamination issues requiring VicTrack to carry out remediation or clean-up works.

Cr Gulline said Council was mindful of the region’s campaign to have passenger trains returned, and how cleanup works could impact on any future rail infrastructure needs.

“We just need to be careful that any works do not impinge on any parts of the rail corridor that may be required for transport purposes in the future.”

“But overall, it’s wonderful to see something is finally going to happen.

“Council has written VicTrack to ascertain what funds have been allocated to improve the railway station building which needs refurbishment,” she said.