Rail Corridor Landscape Improvements

Council was seeking feedback on a draft rail corridor landscape design. The survey closed at 5pm on Thursday 30 November.

Thank you to all the people that provided feedback. Submissions will now be considered and any changes to the plan will be made.

The plan transforms the disused area from wasteland into a series of connected paths, woodlands, green areas and a car park for the silo viewing. It provides safer walking and riding options, especially along Mills Street and includes the planting of trees, shrubs and grasses to beautify the site and provide valuable shade for pedestrians and riders travelling through the area.

The plan is compatible with any return for passenger rail and includes provisions for a third, more modern underpass to be built near David Street, when funding is secured.

There are various limitations on the plan including:

• The area sits beside an operational railway line which limits some activities and access to some areas
• Historic contamination from fuel deliveries by rail has been remediated (or cleaned up), but this still limits some land uses in the area
• HRCC is still working to buy land in the corridor so all of the corridor may not be developed at once
• Some parts of the corridor will continue to be used for rail purposes
• We don’t yet have funds get to construct the modern underpass near David Street
• The project can’t be costed until after this feedback process.