After successfully campaigning the Victorian State Govt. to continue funding the Overland until 2027, many of us were devastated to see the sudden appearance of the cyclone fence being erected at the Nhill Station on July 18th, 2023, preventing access to the veranda, when waiting to board the Overland or greet folks arriving.
A routine inspection by representatives from the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) deemed it unsafe for public use. Despite being over 10 months ago, it is pleasing to see Stage 1 of the renovations, has finally begun.
We are so grateful to ARTC, especially Michael Borrillo and Kim Boundey, for initially taking the time to meet at the Nhill station, listen to the community concerns and then agreeing to invest the dollars required to approve the recommended works. Under the watchful eye of Mirko Nad, from Keystone Building Solutions Australia (KS), the following works have been completed:
- All new lighting inside and out.
- Security flood lights installed on the outside.
- Waiting room floors repaired, sanded, and lacquered revealing the beautiful Cyprus Pine floorboards.
- A new toilet and handbasin have been installed.
Painting of the waiting room, pressure washing the platform and cleaning of windows and removal of THAT fence, will take place in the coming weeks. Despite efforts to prevent the removal of the palm trees, we were advised that there was no choice, as they were causing irreparable damage to the building and dangerously positioned too close to the powerlines.
We ‘Saved the Overland’ and now, thanks to the enthusiasm and passion of many in our community, we have also ‘Saved our Station’, proving to all that Nhill is”¦”¦. ‘Open for Business’!!
This article appeared in the Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 5 June 2024.
