Every seat was full for the first of two public meetings being held to discuss an alternative proposal for the city’s railway precinct.
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Ballarat’s Save Our Station is proposing to use the $25 million set aside in the state government’s budget for a state of the art transport hub instead of a hotel and convention centre.
The group explained in the meeting on Saturday morning its plan was to convert the historic Goods Shed into an undercover bus interchange for local, regional and airport buses with the building’s heritage to be maintained.
There would also be safer linkages between the bus interchange and parking areas as well as better accessibility throughout the station thanks to an underground walkway with lifts and stairs.
The group also emphasised the need for car parking, proposing almost 500 spaces.
Group member John Barnes said the first stage of the plan could be completed within the next three years.
“What we’ve come up with is not the plan, it is a plan to show what is possible with the $25 million if we focus it on lasting improvements to public transport as opposed to the current focus, which is economic development – and they haven’t released the business case to justify what they are proposing,” he said.
Mr Barnes said under the alternative plan it would be the first time the station is compliant and accessible for people with mobility issues.
The group is also looking for future spots to build a multi-storey car park, suggesting Mair Street, which could service both the station and the CBD.
Group member Ron Egeberg said the plan was about preserving Ballarat’s “outstanding” and “unique” rail heritage, but emphasised the group was not anti-development.
“We want to see what happens in this city happen for the benefit of our community so that’s why we’re doing what we’re doing,” he said.
Group members said they were “buoyed” by the turn out of the first public meeting. A second meeting will be held at the Provincial Hotel on Lydiard Street North, on January 21, from 9.30am.