Kalamunda’s 121-year-old locomotive could be saved by Lotterywest grant for asbestos remediation

FOR more than a year a 121-year-old locomotive has been shrouded in plastic at the Kalamunda History Village, its future uncertain, as authorities investigated how to deal with its asbestos contamination.

It has been covered since October 2016 when workers set to re-paint the locomotive discovered friable asbestos.

Now, the G118 locomotive housed at the Kalamunda History Village looks likely to be saved from the scrapheap after the City of Kalamunda was successful in obtaining a $180,000 Lotterywest grant to remediate the site.

Corporate services director Gary Ticehurst said Lotterywest had recently notified the City it was successful in its application for funding to remediate, conserve and refurbish the 1896 locomotive, platform and railway station at the Village.

“We are asking for council to approve the full remediation of the locomotive and proceed with expressions of interest for undertaking the work,” he said.

“We considered five options for dealing with the asbestos, including a sealed viewing enclosure, however only disposal of the locomotive and asbestos removal and remediation would deal with the contamination.”

The officer’s report, presented to council on November 14, said the Department of Environment Regulation had served the City with a notice that the Village would remain a contaminated site until all the asbestos was removed.

“The locomotive has been a major attraction for visitors to the Kalamunda History Village and the current encapsulation has impacted negatively on visitor experiences and may have impacted on revenue generated,” the report said.

“A more permanent remediation of the locomotive and surrounds remains a priority.”

The City has allocated $236,398.73 in funding for the project.

The decison whether to remediate the locomotive will made at the City’s ordinary council meeting on November 28.

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