State Govt strategy for determining future use of old Midland railway workshops announced

23/8/94

Redevelopment of the old Midland railway workshops took a major step forward today with the announcement of a State Government strategy for determining its future use.

Lands Minister George Cash and Planning and Heritage Minister Richard Lewis said the State Government was taking positive steps to speed up plans to redevelop the site for the benefit of residents of the eastern suburbs.

Mr Lewis said Cabinet had approved significant measures to address the future management of the site.

As a priority, responsibility for the workshops is being transferred from Westrail to the Western Australian Land Authority (WALA) to facilitate better management of the site.

In addition, Westrail would commit more than $500,000 towards maintaining the site over the next 12 months, assessing and remediating contamination levels and protecting its heritage values.

At the same time, Education Minister Norman Moore has approached the Federal Government to determine the possibility of funding for proposals for the establishment of a Curtin University campus on the site.

Primary Industries Minister Monty House would also investigate opportunities for the Department of Agriculture to be located at the site.

Mr Cash said Cabinet's decision was an indication of the State Government's determination to make the best possible use of the site for the benefit of the whole community.

"The Midland workshops site offers great potential for the residents of Perth's eastern suburbs," Mr Cash said.

"There is a tremendous opportunity to create a number of very special developments on what is a large site very close to the Town of Midland.

"As a result of the State Government's initiatives, we can now speed up the process of finding the best possible use for the workshops."

Mr Lewis said the report of the Central Midland Planning Taskforce had produced a number of redevelopment options, essentially based on government providing future uses for the site.

The report was being released for public information and WALA - as the agency now responsible for the site --would be in a position to better manage the future development of the workshops.

Mr Lewis said it was now important for government to actively investigate options for redevelopment of the site.

"Both the State Government and the people of the eastern suburbs want to find a viable and productive use for the site as quickly as possible," he said.

The Minister said that while all options were being looked at, Cabinet had made a clear commitment to protect the heritage values of the workshops.

"The State Government supports the concept of maintaining a number of buildings, equipment and artefacts of cultural significance within a heritage precinct," Mr Lewis said.

"The Government also supports the concept of locating the Railway Historical Society with the heritage precinct.

"The workshops are an important part of WA's railway heritage and these aspects should and will be preserved.

"There is a sound argument that the best way to preserve this heritage is to find a new life for the workshops - and that is what the State Government is determined to do."

Media contact:  Paul Plowman 222 9595, Caroline Lacy 222 9595