What does the future hold for the old Mullumbimby train station building?
It has been over three months since the historic 1980s structure was gutted by fire, and the site remains largely untouched, except for a ring of fencing emblazoned with signs warning of asbestos contamination.
But moves are now afoot for management of the building to be handed over to Byron Council so that it can be used by the community into the future.
Ensuring that the station ends up in community hands
Mayor Michael Lyon is proposing that Council lobby Transport for NSW – the state government agency that currently owns and manages the site – in a bid to ensure that it ends up in community hands.
A motion to this effect will come before next week’s Council meeting.
‘It is unknown if the building can be rebuilt, however the external walls appear to be in good shape as they were double brick, so there is the possibility that it can be salvaged and rebuilt,’ Cr Lyon said in comments accompanying the motion.
‘Should this occur, it has been expressed at a recent Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce meeting that the building be brought into community hands.’
Built in the early 1980s
Built in the early 1980s, the building was an important community hub prior to the fire, providing office space for a number of organisations including COREM, Mullum Music Festival and Social Futures in recent years.
But those using the building were forced to find new homes after a blaze ripped through the building at around midnight on April 21.
The interior of the building was effectively gutted in the blaze, along with most of the roof. This has forced Transport for NSW to erect six-foot cyclone fencing around the entire site.
Despite this precaution, and the use of asbestos warning signs, there remain concerns about the safety of the site with locals reporting that teenagers have been breaking in.
In a statement to The Echo, Transport for NSW said: ‘UGL Regional Linx maintains the property and has commissioned an independent consultant to assess the damage and heritage significance. UGL is now reviewing the findings before making recommendations to Transport for NSW’.
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