Korumburra Station works and tenant search continue

WORKS on Korumburra Railway Station are expected to be completed later this year, with plans for it to become a multi-purpose community facility, potentially including arts, education and training.

South Gippsland Shire Council will in due course take over the building from VicTrack, with plans to sublease it.

The Station at Korumburra (TSAK) working group, which has been striving for restoration and community use of Korumburra Station since 2016, continues its commitment to the project.

One of its members Jenni Keerie, also a South Gippsland Shire councillor, outlined the role TSAK is currently playing as it works closely with council and members of interested community groups to find a suitable tenant for the building.

“We’re the ones who have been looking at community use options and we’ve got a significant business case that shows how it could be used, but trying to find the right people to step into the spot at the right time, that’s the tricky part,” Jenni said. 

While the arts sector is a possible focus, Jenni explained it is important to find the right lead tenant who can ensure the Korumburra Station building remains activated and offers opportunities for other community groups.

Many groups that would fit in at the station undoubtedly have something positive to offer the Korumburra community but the required maintenance, heating and cooling of such a large building is not something all of them can manage themselves.

Jenni stressed that the heritage overlay of the building needs to be considered in terms of what can be placed in the station and suitable uses for it.

“It will be available for community use, but exactly what that community use is going to look like, we’re not quite sure,” she said.

Restoration of the grand station began last year and is being carried out on behalf of VicTrack, with funding from the Victorian Government’s Community Use of Vacant Rail Buildings Program.

The project is being delivered in conjunction with an expert heritage architect to ensure the restoration is sympathetic to the heritage values of the building. 

Works on Korumburra Station include carrying out structural repairs and refurbishment, making the building accessible, internal repairs, painting doors and windows, and installing a kitchenette and accessible toilet so the building can be used for community events and meetings.

While much progress has been made, there is still plenty to do, with the platform currently without cover and internal work yet to be completed.

Twenty one other buildings in regional areas have been restored through the Community Use of Vacant Rail Buildings Program, a VicTrack spokesperson said.