By Matthew Sims
A trio of Newport-based tourist and heritage rail groups have received more than $130,000 in state government funding towards their work to protect the state’s rail assets.
After receiving a number of applications, the state government allocated grants to:
* Newport Railway Museum – $25,113 to construct an additional two storage bays for heritage carriages, enabling them to protect more of their artefacts from the weather;
* Seven-0-Seven Operations – $68,200 for the restoration and upgrade of key rolling stock; and
* Steamrail Victoria – $41,580 for the restoration of two T-Class locomotives.
In their applications, groups had to demonstrate that they would use the funding for projects including repairing, restoring, or refurbishing state owned rail assets, improving access to assets, delivering approved projects on buildings or rolling stock and works in the rail corridor, such as weed control or vegetation management.
Williamstown MP Melissa Horne said the funding would continue to support the Newport Railway Museum’s work in preserving heritage .
“Newport is lucky enough to be the custodian of so much rail history, with volunteers working hard to preserve heritage rail locomotives, carriages and other artefacts,” she said.
“The tourist and heritage rail operators at Newport run popular heritage train services across Victoria and the Newport Railway Museum preserves and protects some of our most valuable historic rolling stock and memorabilia.”
VicTrack and the Department of Transport assessed the funding applications.
Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said the funding would also support paid and volunteer jobs within the sector.
“Victoria’s tourist and heritage operators and museums are critical to preserving our transport history,” he said.
“The grants will allow groups to continue the fantastic work they do to protect our rail assets and will help to support tourism across the state.”
The grant allocation followed on from $2.2 million of funding and grants already provided to the sector so far.
