Better Benalla Rail remains hopeful over future of signal box

By Contributed

Oct 7, 2024

Better Benalla Rail's Suzie Pearce and David Moore celebrating after obtaining an interim protection order for the town's historic signal box. That order has since expired. Photo by Simon Ruppert

Better Benalla Rail remains confident it can save Benalla’s historic signal box, which is cited for removal.

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BBR president Suzie Pearce said she was pleased to receive a letter from Victorian Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny regarding the signal box.

“Minister Kilkenny confirms that while the signal box has not been included in the Victorian Heritage Register, it is identified in the Benalla Rural City Council heritage overlay,” Ms Pearce said.

“Further, that a condition of the Inland Rail-Beveridge to Albury Incorporated Document, requires a heritage impact statement for her satisfaction where a permit would normally be required for works within a heritage overlay.

“(I believe) Minister Kilkenny will be influenced in her decision-making by the results of the interpretation strategy (advertised) by ARTC in the Benalla Ensign last week.”

Ms Pearce said she will write to the minister again, saying the options presented to the community did not include relocating the signal box.

“Also, that the community has fought to save the signal box without the support of council who have refused to work with Better Benalla Rail and be their advocate in this matter despite numerous requests,” she said.

“ARTC has advised BBR that council does not want to save the signal box.

“If BBR had been granted a seat at the discussion table as repeatedly requested, many issues would have been more quickly resolved.”