History 1998

02 January 1998.

Portland Observer Headline. CABLE TRAM GAINS KENNETT SUPPORT Extract follows...

Portland's tourist cable tram project has captured the imagination of none other than Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett. Mel Bartlett a member of Portland Cable Trams Inc. and of the Heywood branch of the Liberal Party, sent a Christmas card to the Premier on behalf of himself and his wife, Judy.

Mr Bartlett included a letter with the card outlining the cable tram project and PCT's desire to have the tram operational on rails this year. Judging by a brief letter dated Christmas Eve, Mr Kennett has taken quite a shine to the proposal.

"It is a fantastic project which does have the Government's support," Mr Kennett wrote. "It will be good to see it completed." Mr Bartlett said Premier Kennett, Member for Portland Denis Napthine and Tourism Minister Louise Asher all sat on the Community Support Fund committee - all of whom have been supportive of the cable tram project.  Tourism Minister Louise Asher is expected to visit Portland later this month, and the cable tram project is once again expected to be brought to the Minister's attention.

 

13 February 1998

Portland Observer Headline. GROUP EYES HENTY PARK FOR TRAMWAY DEPOT Extract follows...

Portland Cable Trams now wants to establish its planned tramway depot at Henty Park. It is seeking the approval of the park's owner, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, for which the Glenelg Shire acts as committee of management.

PCT has lost interest in a depot on or near gasworks land, off Glenelg St, where land contamination and costs were issues. The depot was not included in the tram track route which gained a permit through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

 

03 April 1998

Portland Observer Headline. MINISTERS TAKEN FOR RIDE Extract follows...

A group of State Government Ministers were well and truly taken for a ride during a visit to Portland this week. One of the first stops for the party, which included Deputy Premier Pat McNamara; Industry Science and Technology Minister Mark Birrell; Police and Emergency Services Minister Bill McGrath; Transport Minister Robin Cooper; Tertiary Education Minister Phil Honeywood; Attorney General Jan Wade; Liberal Party Member for Western Province Bruce Chamberlain; Youth and Community Services Minister Dr Denis Napthine and Finance and Gaming Minister Roger Hallam, was the workshop of Portland Cable Trams Inc.

 

10 June 1998

Portland Observer Headline. TRAM GROUP'S PUBLIC APPEAL Extract follows...

Portland Cable Trams Inc has launched a public appeal to raise money for rolling stock. The group has already completed construction of its motorised grip car and now aims to buy and restore a saloon car which will be towed behind the grip car for extra passenger capacity.

PCT spokesmen Des Hein and Philip Ruge said the group hoped to raise $60,000 through the public appeal for the purchase and restoration of rolling stock. The appeal got off to a flying start this week with the donation of $500 from drilling contractor Mel Bartlett, plus a further $500 from an anonymous donor. Mr Ruge stressed that the money raised from the public appeal would be for the purchase and restoration of rolling stock only - not for the construction of the track or buildings associated with the tourist tram project.

Rolling stock consists purely of grip and saloon cars. "Once completed, the Portland community will own these assets," Mr Hein said. We are aiming to buy a saloon within the next four weeks and have it fully restored by the end of November," Mr Hein said.

The restoration will be done by volunteer tradesmen under the leadership of Keith McMillan, who has already completed a number of similar projects for Portland. Keith is probably the most skilled person in cable tram restoration in Australia. "He has completed four to date."

 

03 July 1998

Portland Observer Headline. TRAMS SEEK SPECIAL FUND'S NOD Extract follows...

The Premier Jeff Kennett  and State Cabinet have nominated Portland tram tourism for federation commemoration funding. Portland Cable Trams is seeking $1.2 million to construct the tramway, now estimated at 3.5km.

PCT secretary Phil Ruge said: "We, ourselves, did not apply for the access to federal government funds. In fact, groups could not apply for it. You had to be nominated by either your local federal member or the State Government. We are confident about the outcome."

 

06 July 1998

Portland Observer Headline. THE STATE PREMIER'S APPROVAL SIGN-OFF Extract follows...

This expression of support (this and following pages) is why Portland Cable Trams' leaders are extra confident of gaining a government grant to the city's tram tourism project. TO: The Federation Cultural and Heritage Projects Program.

This project is submitted by the Honorable Jeff Kennett, Premier of Victoria. The Project Title: Historic tourist cable tram project, Portland. As one of the furthermost regional centres of Victoria, and located on one of Victoria's foremost tourist attractions, the Great Ocean Road, the cable car project has wide community support and involvement, with considerable potential for increasing tourism to the region. I believe the project will revitalise the Portland region, offer employment opportunities for youth in the region, and do so in a sustainable and long term context. Signed Jeff Kennett, Premier, June 22.

 

15 July 1998

Portland Observer Headline. TRAM LINE THEFT DISAPPOINTING Extract follows...

CIB detectives are investigating the theft of railway line earmarked for Portland's tourist cable tram project. In what has been described by police as a "pretty well organised" theft, more than 11 tonnes of heavy railway line was stolen from a rail reserve owned by the Public Transport Corporation in the North Portland area. The line had been bought by Portland Cable Trams Inc for use on its cable tram route. The stolen steel sections varied in length from 3.6 metres to 18 metres.

 

20 July 1998

Portland Observer Headline. PROJECT BACK ON TRACK Extract follows...

After suffering a minor setback when thieves made off with 11 tonnes of railway line recently, Portland Cable Trams was back on track with more track last week. Seven semi-trailer loads (about 140 tonnes) of rail arrived for the group's cable tram project from the Public Transport Corporation's Ararat yards. However, this consignment does not replace the rail which was stolen recently. The group is still looking for more rail to have enough to complete the project.

 

07 October 1998

Portland Observer Headline. CABLE TRAMS DELAY COULD PROVE COSTLY Extract follows...

Portland Cable Trams Inc is anxious awaiting word on a funding application from the Federal Government. If the group does not receive approval for its Federation Funding grant soon, the city's tourist cable tram route risks not being completed in time for a visit by one of the nation's pre-eminent tram and locomotive organisations. PCT chairman Des Hein said more than 200 members of the Australian Electric Traction Association were expected to visit Portland as part of their national convention next Easter.

 

21 October 1998

Portland Observer Headline. FAILED BID PUTS BRAKE ON TRAMS Extract follows...

Two major projects in south-west Victoria have missed out on Federation Funding from the Federal Government. Portland Cable Trams and Hamilton's Centre for Australian Achievers have both had their funding applications rejected. In Portland's case, the rejection of the Federation Funding is a blow, but PCT still has irons in the fire with Community Support Funding from the State Government. PCT chairman Des Hein said his organisation had been verbally advised last week ... funding had been turned down.