Geelong Miniature Railway group yet to receive land, findings after $50k feasibility study

The club behind a plan to build a miniature railway in Geelong has been left “frustrated” with council yet to give the group its findings into a $50k feasibility study.

John Noble and Brian Gray from Geelong Miniature Railway are concerned they have not been given land from the council to operate. Picture: Brad Fleet

The club behind a plan to build a miniature railway in Geelong has been left “frustrated” council is yet to give the group its findings from a $50,000 feasibility study completed last year.

Geelong Miniature Railway (GMR) wants to lease up to 6ha of council land at a peppercorn lease, a small amount of money to rent a piece of land, to build a dual gauge miniature railway and family park.

GMR founding president Brian Gray said the club, which was established in 2016, had spent seven years trying to obtain land from the council.

“We are a registered charity trying to build a miniature railway to support the local community,” he said.

“We want to build a shed where locals can be taught engineering and fabricate components for the railway.

“If we had land, the first thing we would do is put a shipping container on it and build a track onsite and start operating and then extend from the portable track.”

John Noble and Brian Gray from Geelong Miniature Railway are concerned they have not been given land from the council to operate. Picture: Brad Fleet

In March last year, the group was given $50,000 by the City of Greater Geelong to conduct an independent feasibility study into the railway.

The study was completed in December last year and submitted to council in February this year with additional information was submitted in July.

Mr Gray said council was yet to provide the group with its written report on the findings of the study and if a parcel of land would be made available for the group.

But, almost three months on, he said the GMR had been left in the dark.

“It’s like we don’t matter or don’t deserve a response,” Mr Gray said.

“It’s frustrating … it’s a slap in the face.”

The feasibility study found four appropriate sites for the railway; Sutcliffe Reserve in Corio, Fountain of Friendship Park in Norlane, Haines Reserve in Hamlyn Heights and Brearley Reserve in Marshall.

“There is a market for miniature railways to be viable and sustainable operations, worthy of public investment,” the report stated.

The group had secured more than 3000 signatures in support of the project and several local business pledges and sponsorships.

But Mr Gray said the Geelong club now only has 20 members and has lost 70 per cent of its membership due to the project “dragging on”.

The club has even purchased a zero-steer lawnmower so it can take on the responsibility of maintaining the land.

“This just shows councils lack of commitment and support for community endeavours that will bring tourism to the region,” Mr Gray said.

City of Greater Geelong acting executive director of customer, community and economy, Tennille Bradley, said the next step in the process was for the city to provide feedback to GMR but did not provide a timeline to when the report would be given.

Originally published as Geelong Miniature Railway group yet to receive land, findings after $50k feasibility study