NURIOOTPA RAILWAY STATION

Mr VENNING (Schubert) (15:38): This has just come across my desk. I have been advised that the Nuriootpa Railway Station is to be demolished. I have to say from the outset that I am extremely disappointed and upset about this. The railway line that runs from Gawler to Angaston, and the stations along there, are owned by the government and leased by Genesee & Wyoming Australia. I have been informed today that the transport minister has given Genesee & Wyoming permission to demolish the station. If this is true, I ask: where was the public consultation about this? None, none at all. This is totally out of the blue.

The local Barossa community feels extremely connected to their local heritage, and they have been lobbying for the past few years for the Rann Labor government to reinstate a passenger railway service from Adelaide to the Barossa, or to at least trial a passenger service. I have advocated very strongly on their behalf, as the house would know.

This decision was made without any consultation at all, nor was any information provided to the public. This is a slap in the face for the Barossa community, and it ignores the importance of local heritage. I think it demonstrates that the state Rann Labor government has no intention of trialling or ever reinstating a passenger rail service to the Barossa.

I helped restore this building in the mid to late nineties, when the local youth group used it for a drop-in youth centre, aptly called Track 4. I helped them to paint it—it was a great community effort and it was well used. When they moved to another venue the building became the victim of vandals. It ought to have been fenced off and protected but it was not. I am extremely disappointed that the station has been allowed to fall into a state of disrepair. What was once a beautiful heritage station has been allowed to become an eyesore: it is covered in graffiti, the walls are smashed in and it is inhabited by pigeons. However, it is of local heritage significance and, if it is demolished, it will be lost forever. To bring it back to a useful respectable condition would not be at great cost as most of the damage is superficial, on the outside of the building, mainly to the cladding.

It is my understanding that part of the lease agreement between the government and the lessee includes the condition that Genesee & Wyoming Australia must keep all buildings—which I believe refers to the stations along the line—in good condition. This agreement was formed in 1997, but the Nuriootpa Railway Station has been left to rot. The question needs to be asked: why has the government allowed this to happen?

Mr Piccolo interjecting:

Mr VENNING: I note that the ex-mayor of Gawler has just interjected and says we sold out. I will ask him if he will come and help me with this, if he is dinkum. When the Liberal government was in, the railway trains were running. The then minister Laidlaw introduced the wine train. This station was a very important hub for the transport buses to come in and pick up people from the train. So do not tell me what the Liberal government did—we did very well. Since the government changed it has all gone backwards at 100 miles an hour. It is a disgrace.

Why has the government allowed this to happen? Why has it deliberately been allowed to be run down? I am aware that the Barossa council has been inundated with inquiries today from local community members and train enthusiasts about the station's proposed demolition, but they have no power in this situation—I presume the station is owned by the government. I call on the Rann Labor government, specifically the transport minister, the Hon. Mr Conlon, to not allow this to happen. I call on him to instantly make a phone call and to stop this straightaway.

Genesee & Wyoming Australia should be made to fix up the station and restore it to its condition in 1997 when they began leasing the line and the buildings from the government. At least they should do renovation work to bring it back to a presentable and safe condition and save it for the community. I plead with this company to do this for the sake of the community. When a company runs a big business I think there are some responsibilities for that company to say, 'Hang on, this mightn't be a profitable venture, but we are going to fix this up, freshen it up for the community as a community service.' I make that plea to them, because obviously they will get a copy of this—I will make sure that they do. As a community service, hear this plea and save our railway station. I also ask the minister to interfere and try to help us. Thank you.