THE second major step of the new-look Ballarat Station precinct is open for business, but it might be sometime before you can head directly down Lydiard Street to it.
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As the new four-star Quest Apartments officially opened their doors to customers on Monday morning, the question on everyone's lips still revolved around when the station gates, destroyed in May by an out-of-control train will be either replaced or a new boom will be installed at the intersection.
The intersection has remained closed to traffic since May 30, when a V/Line passenger train's brakes failed, destroying the southern gate.
Wendouree MP Juliana Addison, who officially cut the ribbon at new hotel complex, said she had spoken directly to Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll on Friday to ascertain more details on when the intersection could reopen.
"It's very disruptive having the Lydiard Street gates closed," she said. "It's one of our key streets and key entries into the CBD from Soldiers Hill and Ballarat North.
"I spoke to the minister to express the very significant concerns in the Ballarat community about the gates remaining closed and how we would like to see them opened.
"He is well aware of that and he said he would continue to raise the issue with the department and be following it up this week. As soon as I know something I'll be letting people know."
The interim report into the crash showed that wheel slipping just after Ballan most likely led to the crash, with the train hitting the gates at just on 100km/h.
Ms Addison said the heritage concerns around the gates, coupled with the full report still to come, meant it might be sometime before we see action at the site.
"When that train came through the gates and did the damage, there was a lot of debris which we saw even hit the Provincial Hotel. I want to make sure the Ballarat community is safe first and foremost," she said.
"If it was an easy fix, there would be an easy solution, but it is a complex problem and we're working through all the complexities of it."
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The Quest Apartments opening day is the second major development at what mayor Daniel Moloney jokingly referred to as a "former bomb site" in his speech on Monday. The adjacent multi-storey car park opened in 2019.
The development has come through a $28.3 million Regional Infrastructure Grant from the state government. The total redevelopment will see the refurbished Goods Shed, a public plaza and conference facilities added to the site. Developer Nando Pellicano said the project was progressing well and should be ready to open sometime in 2021.
