Regional Fast Rail: Managing Heritage Values
Client: Regional Rail Link
The Regional Fast Rail project is part of the $5 billion Linking Victoria Program and will provide regional and rural Victorians with a high standard rail system that improves travel times, and increases reliability and passenger comfort though modern trains operating at speeds up to 160 km/h. The project involves the upgrading of 140 kilometres of rail line and associated improvements to stations, bridges, level crossings, signalling, and other infrastructure.
Context was engaged by Regional Rail Link, the private consortium constructing the Latrobe and Bendigo lines, to identify, assess and document places and features of post-contact cultural heritage significance along both the rail lines, and to provide advice and assistance with heritage approvals processes. A process of consultation with Indigenous stakeholders was also undertaken to develop management options for Indigenous heritage places within the rail corridor.
The project required careful planning and close liaison with the client, Indigenous stakeholders and relevant statutory authorities including Heritage Victoria and local Councils to minimise impacts upon a range of heritage places. These included buildings, trees, Indigenous archaeological sites, bridges and infrastructure such as historic signalling. Community consultation was an important part of the approach to this project. Strategies to minimise impacts, development approvals submitted to heritage agencies plus monitoring during construction were essential parts of protecting the heritage values of each rail line and its surroundings.
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