By Tyler Wright
No clear deadline of when works on Cockatoo Railway Station will be completed was given by Puffing Billy Railway, after a meeting saw 34 community members gather on Saturday 16 July to push for the station rebuild.
Organiser and Cockatoo Puffing Billy Appreciation Group president Brett Barker said he asked for a verandah, store, waiting shelter and restrooms to be built within two years, but Puffing Billy Railway CEO Peter Abbott could not commit to this timeline.
By restoring the Cockatoo Railway Station to its original state in the 1920s, Mr Barker said it would make Cockatoo the “best stop off point on the line”.
“There is a local history room planned for the station giving it a dual purpose,” Mr Barker said.
“400 metres from the station you have (the Ash Wednesday Bushfire Education Centre) with historical displays.
“Adjoining the station you have Wright Forest, Victoria’s high rated walk for families. The Emerald to Gembrook walking trail is also close by.
Plans for the rebuild are set out in Puffing Billy Railway’s Master Plan implemented in 2017 and Strategic Plan 2022-2025.
The Master Plan 2017 proposes Cockatoo Railway Station be rebuilt to a design “similar to the original station” and form into a “hub for walkers and cyclists using the regional walking trail system, including the nearby Wrights Forest reserve”.
“Over the long term, this site will become a more significant starting and finishing destination for rail users coming from the emerging residential areas (Pakenham / Officer) to the south,” the master plan reads.
Puffing Billy Railway CEO Peter Abbott told the Star Mail in July that since 2014, Puffing Billy has “reconstructed the platform, relocated and commissioned the signalling back to its original position, constructed a lamp room in accordance with the proposed plans at the Belgrave end of the platform, obtained Council planning permits and sewerage planning approvals and finalised design”.
“With the significant impact of COVID-19 and its mass disruption to demand for tourism, Puffing Billy Railway’s visitation is at 20 per cent of what it was prior to the pandemic,” Mr Abbott said.
“While the focus is currently on recovery and returning to financial sustainability for the railway, we remain committed to delivering on this priority project and look forward to working with the community and progressing our shared goals to bring the Cockatoo Station precinct to life,” Mr Abbott told the Star Mail after the meeting.
Mr Barker has asked the Puffing Billy Railway CEO and Puffing Billy Infrastructure Manager Bret Butler to a further meeting to be held on Saturday 20 August at 2:00pm to discuss the future of the Cockatoo Railway Station rebuild.
The venue is still to be announced.
