Ballarat heritage buffs may be pleased to know that the smashed Lydiard Street railway gates could still one day be returned in working order.
The Department of Transport says it’s not safe to put them back, however a heritage permit says they must go back in ‘active use’.
Michael Bailey, the Department’s Grampians Chief says whilst he believes it’s not practical, it’s something that can’t be ruled out just yet.
“No, I can’t categorically say that.”
“We now go through the process, so V/Line will put in that permit application to Heritage Victoria and they will undertake their assessment based on what we’ve seen, what the technical data says and what we’ve heard from the community,” Mr. Bailey said.
The replica heritage gates were smashed by an out-of-control Velocity train in May 2020 with heritage advocates vocal in pushing for their return.
