Thursday, 7 April 2022

Puffing Billy Railway Bill 2022

Council’s amendments

Message from Council relating to following amendments considered:

Clause 6, page 5, line 1, after “maintain” insert “and develop”.

Clause 6, page 5, line 19, after “Board” insert “, volunteers”.

NEW CLAUSE

Insert the following New Clause to follow clause 9—

“9A Stakeholder consultative committee

(1) The Board must establish a stakeholder consultative committee in relation to the Puffing Billy Railway within 12 months of the commencement of this section.

(2) The function of the stakeholder consultative committee is to provide to the Board comments regarding the following matters—

(a) business and strategic matters relating to the Puffing Billy Railway;

(b) the safe operation and management of the Puffing Billy Railway;

(c) the visitor experience provided by the Puffing Billy Railway and the surrounding region;

(d) the recruitment, engagement, recognition and retention of volunteers;

(e) the maintenance and preservation of the heritage of the Puffing Billy Railway.

(3) The stakeholder consultative committee must consist of members who represent persons whose interests the Board considers may be affected by the matters referred to in subsection (2), including members who represent the following—

(a) the Puffing Billy Preservation Society;

(b) community service groups;

(c) local heritage groups;

(d) volunteers of the Puffing Billy Railway;

(e) local trader associations, chambers of commerce and tourism organisations;

(f) communities located near land forming part of the Puffing Billy Railway;

(g) Councils, within the meaning of the Local Government Act 2020, whose municipal districts include land forming part of the Puffing Billy Railway;

(h) schools, within the meaning of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006, that are located near land forming part of the Puffing Billy Railway;

(i) children and young people associated with the Puffing Billy Railway.

(4) The stakeholder consultative committee must meet at least twice each year.”.

Mr PAKULA (Keysborough—Minister for Industry Support and Recovery, Minister for Trade, Minister for Business Precincts, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for Racing) (10:08): I move:

That the amendments be agreed to.

In doing so I want to particularly reference the member for Eildon and thank her for the constructive manner in which she engaged with the government on the question of these amendments.

Motion agreed to.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: A message will now be sent to the Legislative Council informing them of the house’s decision.