Tuesday, 21 March 2023

Railway House, Beaconsfield

Michael GALEA (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (17:00): (110) I raise a matter for the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure in the other place, and the action I seek is for the minister to take action to protect the Beaconsfield Railway House and the bunya-bunya pine tree from proposed demolition as required by the Level Crossing Removal Project. I have been approached by many residents in and around Beaconsfield concerned by the threat of demolition that could see the end of a historic house that is highly valued by the community. The Railway House was built in 1888, and at that time a bunya-bunya pine tree was planted. In recent years the house became a home to Ian and Yvonne Cole, who lovingly and meticulously restored the home to its original state.

In its planning scheme Cardinia Shire Council has a heritage overlay over the property it considers as significant and seeks to protect. The bunya-bunya pine tree is also 135 years old, and along with the Railway House it represents the history of Beaconsfield. It is considered significant by the Cardinia Shire Council and is also considered culturally significant in that it was used as a food source for Indigenous people, who ate the nuts and the shoots produced by the tree. Indigenous people also used the tree to remove bark for kindling and held large community events to celebrate the harvesting of the kernels. The tree was so significant to Aboriginal families that they would own a group of trees and pass them down from generation to generation. The ownership of these trees proves the importance of them, as hereditary personal property transfer is unusual.

The Level Crossing Removal Project at Beaconsfield is a very important continuation of our level crossing removal works undertaken on the Pakenham line. It is impressive that this entire line will be level-crossing free and that as a result communities along the corridor will be safer and our roads and rail services will be less congested and more efficient. The Beaconsfield and neighbouring communities are very passionate about the history of their township, and in response to seeking to protect the heritage they have created a campaign which includes a petition and storytelling. Cardinia Shire Council have made a submission seeking to protect this property, and Cr Brett Owen has also made representations to me on behalf of Beaconsfield residents. In closing, I ask the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure to assist the Beaconsfield community in preserving their significant heritage.