Premier Statement: Qld, BUDERIM-PALMWOODS HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE AND WALK OPEN ...

[ozbob]

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Saturday, June 20, 2009

Qld, BUDERIM-PALMWOODS HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE AND WALK OPEN FOR PUBLIC VIEWING FOR Q150 CELEBRATION

Part of the 2km Buderim-Palmwoods Heritage Tramway walk has been spruced up with the help of Queensland Government?s Q150 Community Funding and is open today for public viewing on progress, just in time for tomorrow?s Buderim Big Bash which also pays tribute to Queensland?s 150th Celebrations, Premier Anna Bligh said.

The Queensland Government granted Buderim-Palmwoods Heritage Tramway Inc $5888 in Q150 Community Funding towards restoration and commemoration of the Buderim Tramway Heritage walking track and locomotive, including the placing of two bench seats along the track at 460m and 740m.

?This track was a link to the outside world for timber-getters and farmers producing quality fruit between 1914 and 1935,? Ms Bligh said.
?It was an improvement on horse and bullock tracks at the time.

?Today it is a walk into the wilderness providing us with an awesome glimpse into forest re-growth where you can fill your lungs with fresh mountain air and be inspired by the scenery as well learn more about our past.

?It?s ongoing restoration of the locomotive and walk is a tribute to the community and the people committed to making it accessible to all with a portion of the track also providing wheel-chair access.

?This year Queensland commemorates its 150th anniversary of separation from New South Wales, and it?s all about celebrating our people, our places, our stories as well as to take stock of how far we?ve come and take a look at just how we want to shape our future.

?Preserving beautiful places such as the Buderim-Palmwoods Heritage Tramway walk helps us encourage more people to enjoy the wonder that surrounds them and build an appreciation of our past.

?I congratulate everyone involved in the development of the walk and restoration of the locomotive.?

The walk will be promoted at tomorrow?s Buderim Big Bash which celebrates the work of almost 60 community groups in the area over the past 150 years.

Bruce Horton, Treasurer for Buderim-Palmwoods Heritage Tramway Inc said the restored Kraus locomotive would also be on display at the restoration site and people going to the Buderim Big Bash would have an opportunity to view it as part of a free bus tour.

?The locomotive and now the walk are an important part of our history,? he said.

?We are grateful that with the help of the Q150 funding and Council funding we will be able to operate a bus tour tomorrow and have been able to include interpretative heritage signage as well as continue the work of upgrading and beautifying the walking track.

?This way our past is preserved and we are enabling future generations to enjoy an aspect of Buderim?s history.?

Q150 Community Funding was introduced by the Queensland Government in 2007 to help communities plan and stage their own celebrations. The program offered grants between $2000 and $10,000 for community projects and events. In total $4 million in grants has been allocated over three rounds. There are more than 500 Q150 Community Funding activities and events being held around the State this year.

Visit www.q150.qld.gov.au for a program of Q150 activities around the State as well as a Q150 calendar of events.
Media inquiries: 3224 4500

[ozbob]

http://www.buderim.com.au/tramway.htm

The Buderim to Palmwoods tramway (really a railway) was built to service the needs of the farmers and residents of Buderim & district. It enabled farm produce, fruit, timber etc to access Brisbane via the main-line at Palmwoods. The first tram ran in 1914 and the last in 1935. Buderim and district in the early 1900s was a thriving community. It's farms were producing plenty of high quality fruit and timber.