A group, BOBCAR – Best Option Benalla Community Amentities and Rail – Project Reference Group last Friday held a town hall meeting to discuss the proposed changes and offer a new proposal moving forward, with four local politicians, including Member for Euroa Steph Ryan and Benalla Rural City Mayor Scott Upston in attendance.
Chairman of the group, Stephen Kelly, has a graduate degree in engineering.
He has offered an alternative plan to ARTC's plan - which he said would be an eyesore for Benalla - that would divert the train tracks to a newly-built platform, offer associated pedestrian and vehicle access, an increase in station access and car parks in the place of a demolished overpass.
Speaking to the Ensign, Cr Upston said all parties were working together to try to get a better outcome for Benalla, adding the proposed railway overpass additions from ARTC would be an unacceptable outcome for the people of Benalla.
The group yesterday delivered a letter of intention to the Federal Parliament and Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines.
ARTC representatives were also in attendance at the community meeting and have released a statement in regard to the public's increased interest in the project.
"While we have been engaging with Council, local residents and the wider community on the Inland Rail project for close to two years; we do recognise there is now new interest in considering alternative solutions at Benalla being requested by members of the community," ARTC General Manager of Projects Victoria Ed Walker said.
"ARTC understands proposals considering the wider Benalla rail precinct were discussed at the meeting. While much of this is outside the scope of the Inland Rail project and would involve multiple agencies, we are committed to continue working with Council, members of the community and other stakeholders to consider these concerns further.
"We have also received some draft concepts from BOBCAR regarding the Benalla precinct which our Inland Rail engineering and design team will review."
