Advantages of Creating a Heritage Rail Precinct at Newport
A significant new tourist attraction for local area and Victoria. Tourism operators have been pleading for new major tourist attractions to lure visitors to Melbourne from interstate and overseas.
Newport’s close proximity to the city makes it easy for tourists and the public to access it by train and car.
Creating a railway precinct called Railworks at Newport would be major addition to the Western suburbs museum precinct – Scienceworks at Spotswood – Seaworks at Williamstown, and the Aviation museum at Point Cook (Flightworks?)
It would boost economic development by creating new business and job opportunities. Railworks could incorporate appropriate commercial activities such as Cafes, Restaurants, Venues, arts and crafts, community groups, and heritage manufacturing/maintenance activities.
There will be also accommodation, food and taxi spin off benefits in the local area.
Significant research and educational resource
Creates new skills and training opportunities
Apprentice training established
Opportunities for individuals, community groups, businesses, schools and clubs to participate
Provide a facility for people to serve community service obligations and provide a venue for work for the dole participants.
There will be many ways for disabled people can serve on staff or as volunteers
It is a unique opportunity for involvement by highly trained ex-service personnel or retired people
An opportunity to establish a new Men’s/Women’s Shed in the Newport Williamstown area that currently doesn’t have a shed.
It could provide an appropriate place to display the huge transport mural hidden away in a shopping plaza at Southern Cross station.
The derelict parcels dock area located at Flinders Street Station could be used to run heritage trains from the City directly into Railworks
This is Victoria’s chance to catch up with all the other state’s railway museums and one of the most important tourist attractions in Australia…
