Options for station considered

• Dorset Mayor Greg Howard looking for answers for the Scottsdale station’s future. 

By Tony Scott,
September 22, 2021

The future of the old Scottsdale Railway station is to be considered by Dorset Council and the local Rotary Club in the light of it becoming a target of repeated vandal attacks.

Council General Manager Tim Watson explained that while the building was still owned by Tasrail, as the appointed manager of the rail corridor the Council was responsible for its management.

He said council staff were becoming exasperated with the vandalism and suggestions that not enough was being done to protect the building.

“They cut their way through the fence, we fix and they cut it again.

“There’s only so much we can do.”

Mr Watson said there was still a sum of $25,000 being held in trust for when the Rotary Club was prepared to renovate the building to be developed as some form of tourism-related premises.

“That was tied in with the extension of the Rail Trail, so with delays to the project it’s not really gone anywhere.

“If Rotary were able to brings its plans forward I think Council would look favourably at approval.”

Councillor Edwina Powell suggested that given its heritage listing there could be other authorities that might contribute.

Mayor Greg Howard said an appropriate use needed to be found for the building.

“We’ve also got to be careful that any money that’s spent on it is not wasted by having more vandalism.

“Even with the rail trail up and running that would only provide a trickle of visitors as a general rule. 

“It would be good to have some passive security like some RV campers nearby.”

The area is used by self contained RVs, but not on a frequent basis.