{"id":273737,"date":"2020-08-25T19:09:50","date_gmt":"2020-08-25T09:09:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=273737"},"modified":"2020-08-26T11:19:06","modified_gmt":"2020-08-26T01:19:06","slug":"council-approves-mens-shed-expansion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2020\/08\/25\/council-approves-mens-shed-expansion\/","title":{"rendered":"Council Approves Expansion"},"content":{"rendered":"
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FLASHBACK: Earlier this year, Murgon Men’s Shed president Dave Mollenhauer and secretary Allen Mitchell showed Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien, centre, the work the group has done so far on a 101-year-old railway carriage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

August 25, 2020 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Murgon’s Men’s Shed will have their grounds enlarged by almost 3400 sq m so two railway carriages displayed next to the former Murgon Railway Station can be moved to form the core of a railway display.<\/p>\n

The two carriages were acquired by the Men’s Shed and moved to the site in late 2016 with the idea of creating a trailhead ahead of the South Burnett Rail Trail’s opening.<\/p>\n

Since then, Men’s Shed members have been restoring the carriages, a task that has proved to be more time-consuming than originally expected but one that is showing steady progress.<\/p>\n

At August’s monthly South Burnett Regional Council meeting, Councillors were told the Men’s Shed now wanted to build a shelter to enclose the carriages.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This would not only protect the carriages from the elements and vandalism but also allow the group to create an expanded railway display over time, possibly including extra rolling stock.<\/p>\n

The South Burnett Rail Trail is built on a former rail corridor owned by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR).<\/p>\n

DTMR has leased the land to Council, who are empowered to grant sub-leases to community groups and businesses who want to use land or buildings along the corridor for other purposes.<\/p>\n

However, DTMR objected to the Men’s Shed’s proposal because the Department believed land used for the Rail Trail should be kept free of obstructions to allow full public access.<\/strong><\/p>\n

To solve the problem, Council officers recommended the Men’s Shed existing site lease – which adjoins the railway station in Macalister Street – be expanded to allow the group to move the carriages to a new location off the Rail Trail but immediately next to it.<\/p>\n

Councillors agreed. An expanded lease will be given to the group but the Men’s Shed will have to arrange to have the two carriages moved.<\/p>\n

The group will now seek funding to hire a crane capable of shifting the carriages a short distance to their new, permanent home.<\/p>\n

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