Tuesday 12th June 2018
The Leader of The Nationals and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh MP has called on the Victorian Transport Minister Jacinta Allan to expedite work on the Rochester Railway Station to establish the Rochester Sports Museum.
John Forbes an avid collector of sports memorabilia through a very long career with Puma agreed to hand his valuable collection over to the Rochester Lions Club for display in Rochester.
The Rochester Sports Museum Committee was formed and the Rochester Railway Station was identified as a perfect building to house the museum.
Mr Walsh said VicTrack Property Group advised the committee in March 2018 that VicTrack would agree to lease the Rochester Railway Station for the museum.
“That was great news for Rochester but was followed by disappointment in May 2018 when VicTrack advised the station was not in a leasable state and needed repair work.
“The repair work was scheduled to begin in June 2018 but VicTrack has failed to respond to the committee’s request for updates.”
“The committee is concerned there is a risk that the lease will fall through and they will be left without premises for the museum.”
Mr Walsh urged the Minister to enable the Rochester Sports Museum to have a home so John Forbes can finally see his collection of sports memorabilia displayed for everyone to enjoy.
“The committee is hopeful that the Minister will provide the funds for the upgrade and deliver access to the station in this calendar year.
“They have secured one of Australia’s most valuable and complete sporting memorabilia collections they have worked incredibly hard on fundraising the project has very strong community support and has the prospect of providing a much needed boost to Rochester’s economy following the closure of the Murray Goulburn factory.
“All it needs now is the will of the Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allen to get the project over the line.”
According to the Sessional Orders of the Victorian Parliament the Minister has 30 days to respond in writing to Mr Walsh.
