William Scott
The latest Inland Rail works planned in Broadford have received positive feedback from locals following a month-long community consultation.
Updated designs for the Hamiton Street and Short Street bridges and surrounding areas were released for public feedback, and over 140 residents shared their views on the plans.
Inland Rail, and construction partner John Holland, sought community feedback on a range of design details including landscaping and plant selection, artwork, signage, and play equipment for the Short Street playground.
The community favoured local artwork on the bridges, a mixture of exotic and native evergreen trees in landscaped areas adjacent to the new bridges and a variety of new equipment for the playground.
Most respondents were positive about the designs, with many complimentary of the improvement the project will bring to the local amenity, pedestrian safety and connectivity.
The feedback and comments will now be used to shape aspects of the final design.
Early works have begun in Broadford including surveying the railway track, road and pavement levels at multiple locations, investigating and cleaning out drainage pits at multiple drainage locations, and locating and mapping underground utilities.
The works at Marchbanks Road, Short Street and Hamilton Street will be serviced from a project office at 231 High Street, Broadford, where worker facilities, plant and material will be located. Smaller site facilities will be established at Short Street and Hamilton Street to facilitate construction works and locate worker facilities.
Inland Rail Project Director, Scott Anderson, thanked the community for their interest and contribution to the Inland Rail project in Broadford.
“We value local input and will endeavour to incorporate the community’s preferred options in the design,” Mr Anderson said.
“Residents repeated their request to have the Hamilton and High Street intersection upgraded, whilst acknowledging it was out of the scope of the Inland Rail project, and many asked about the construction timing and traffic management.
“The community will start to see more activity in the coming weeks as early works in Broadford ramp up.
“We thank the community for their patience and understanding as we carry out the important early works.”
