Petition to save Brookton Railway Station after Shire of Brookton council votes to demolish building
Over a thousand people have signed a petition to stop the planned demolition of a 183-year-old railway station in the Wheatbelt.
The Shire of Brookton’s decision at its council meeting on October 17 to demolish one of its last remaining heritage structures has divided the town.
Former Arts and Crafts Centre volunteer Sharon Williams started a campaign to save the station.
Since its launch on October 20, the Change.org petition to save Brookton Railway Station has attracted more than 1300 signatures with many shocked by the council’s decision.
“Everyone is shocked, angered, disappointed and frustrated because we’ve been led to believe they were going to restore it for three years,” Ms Williams said.
“People around the State share the same feelings because they’ve either lived here or visited regularly and connected with it.
“Its restoration is not just a dream nurtured by locals, but also a desire expressed by tourists who frequently visit our town.”
The railway station has been vacant since 2019 when it was deemed unsafe for use due to structural and white ant damage, sinking foundations and a damaged roof.
Camera IconWhite ant damage. Credit: Hannah Whitehead
Camera IconReinforcements were put in place to hold up the roof due to sinking foundations. Credit: Hannah Whitehead
The community voted to restore it on April 16, 2021, which the council endorsed on January 20, 2022.
The shire regularly shared updates on the restoration plan to its website, social media and community pages, spending $180,000 on consultants reports.
The renovation was to be funded by a $295,000 grant and the rest from the shire’s $11.8 million reserves fund.
The council received three tenders ranging from $1.4m to $1.98m to complete the first stage of the refurbishment, which they presented at a public meeting on September 3, attended by 26 residents.
Those who couldn’t attend the meeting wrote to the council separately with their letters representing a range of views — some support demolishing the building in light of the cost, while others propose alternatives that would reduce costs, such as using volunteers for the garden or repurposing into an open shelter that could be used for markets and events.
Shire officers recommended at the council’s September 19 meeting that councillors select the $1.4m tender from Stallion Homes Co.
Instead they voted unanimously to reject the tenders on the basis that the proposed works did not represent value for money for the community.
At their next meeting on October 17, councillors voted 5-2 to demolish the station and start public consultation to redesign the public space with Crs Harold Bell and Beryl Copping voting against.
Camera IconThe Shire of Brookton chief executive Gary Sherry and president Katrina Crute in front of the fenced off Brookton Railway Station that is to be demolished. Credit: Hannah Whitehead
Brookton Shire chief executive Gary Sherry said councillors “would love” to keep the railway station “but the cost involved is too high”.
“The council have been working towards refurbishment for the last five years, but they’ve got to this point after a lot of work and developed a better understanding of the amount of work required,” he said.
“The original cost was expected to be $1m but now it’s more than $2m and because the railway is beside an active track it makes it difficult to complete the work.
“The station is in extremely poor repair, structurally unsound and needs considerable work.
“Council could do better and provide more benefit to the community with other projects — industrial and residential land developments and community housing.”
Ms Williams said she did not accept the council’s reasons for the demolition.
“The shire justifies their decision by saying ‘it’s not value for money’ but they don’t spend money on anything,” she said.
“If you look around, so much of our infrastructure is so run down.
“It’s one of the few tourist things we have and lots of people come to see the station.
“It’s the heart and soul of our town, if you pull that down, you lose the heart and soul.”
Camera IconSharon Williams is campaigning to save the Brookton Railway Station. Credit: Hannah Whitehead
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