New rail to get trams back on track

REPLACEMENT works on Lake Wendouree’s tram tracks between the Ballarat Tramway Museum and St Aidans Drive are underway.

The $2.4 million upgrade of the BTM tracks has been funded by both the State and Federal governments equally.

BTM will deliver the project in partnership with the City of Ballarat, to ensure tram riders can enjoy a smoother and safer journey along the line.

BTM president Paul Mong said the Museum has been lobbying all levels of government for a decade to get the replacement works funded, with a section of track as old as one-hundred-and-seventeen years.

“The condition of the rail is very, very poor, it’s destroying our historic trams, and is a safety risk. It was getting to the stage if it wasn’t replaced, we would have been shut down by the national regulator,” he said.

“With the support of Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison, and the City of Ballarat, we’re at the stage where we can replace it.

“The State has contributed $1.2 million. The Federal Government gave the City of Ballarat millions for road projects, and we’re using a percentage of that to do these works as the City owns the track and the roadway.”

Ms Addison was proud to support the tourist attraction, and keep a major part of the city’s heritage alive.

“This will help preserve a unique and important part of Ballarat’s history for years to come,” she said.

These track replacement works are set to create 30 jobs. The Museum expects the project to be completed by June.

The tracks between the Museum and Carlton Street were replaced with a Pick My Project grant in 2019.

BTM can’t operate their trams during the works, however the new Museum building is open to the public on weekends from 11am to 4pm.