Tuesday, 22 March 2022
Bills
Puffing Billy Railway Bill 2022
Bills
Puffing Billy Railway Bill 2022
Second reading
Debate resumed.
Mr HODGETT (Croydon) (14:51): Before question time I was making a contribution to the Puffing Billy Railway Bill 2022, and I was speaking about the infrastructure and assets of the railway and what had been described as being an ugly dispute over that asset ownership. I did think this was a very important matter that needed to be sorted out that the bill did not attempt to achieve, and I thought that maybe the minister in consideration in detail might have the opportunity to clarify the action that might be taken here.
I know that the land tenure arrangements throughout the corridor are a complex mix of Emerald Railway Tourist Board freehold and Puffing Billy Preservation Society freehold, leases, licences and Crown land. The department is currently reviewing all land tenure agreements across the rail corridor, so that might give us some direction or some answers about where that might head. The powers given to the board in section 27(1)(a) are very broad. It enables the new board to grant ‘a lease, licence or easement over any land vested in or owned, leased or managed by’ the new board. I understand some society members are very concerned that the arrangements may allow acquisition by stealth of assets owned by the Puffing Billy Preservation Society or others.
As I said, it is an important matter. I understand that at the briefing some of these questions remained unanswered and some further information may have been going to be supplied to the member for Eildon, our shadow spokesperson for tourism. The questions primarily relate to that definition of the extent of the rail corridor, including details of what is freehold, leased, licensed and/or Crown land. The bill does not deal with it. Should it? I do not know. It is certainly an outstanding issue. It certainly needs these questions to be discussed or answered so that some peace of mind might be given to some people who have concerns about that. We all want Puffing Billy to grow and prosper, and we recognise the important role it plays in tourism in the Dandenong Ranges and the Yarra Valley. But that is an important area that we would like to be addressed, and if we move into a consideration-in-detail stage and have adequate time, the minister may be able to shed some light there to give some people some confidence, certainty and reassurance in that area.
That the debate be now adjourned.
Motion agreed to and debate adjourned.
Ordered that debate be adjourned until later this day.