THE Australian Rail and Track Corporation (ARTC) continues to say the public wants an overpass for the Euroa rail precinct, but at least one Strathbogie Shire councillor is not convinced.

ARTC’s Victoria projects general manager Ed Walker told the Gazette their consultation has been broad with a steady theme being found in conversations.

“ARTC has met with hundreds of Euroa residents through our broad consultation since 2018, including 155 conversations through our weekly pop-up since November 2020, where we have been listening to their feedback and the needs of the community,” Mr Walker said.

“Through this consultation process, we continue to hear about consistent themes; the importance of safety, connectivity, functionality and visual amenity.

“Our discussions find an overpass and a new station as the most viable solution to achieve these outcomes, while holding concerns that other proposals wouldn’t satisfy these conditions. This is especially pertinent with respect to residents who live in close proximity to the site.”

Mr Walker said the collaboration with the Euroa Working Group (EWG) is still key.

“ARTC is committed to doing as much as we can to incorporate community feedback to ensure what we build supports opportunities for future development of the area, and the ‘Creating a Civic Presence’ document developed by the EWG is a key tool to help us understand the needs of the community,” Mr Walker said.

“One example of ARTC’s commitment to meet the requirements of the document is our announcement of a track realignment following the constructive engagement process between ARTC and the Euroa Working Group.”

Earlier this month the Strathbogie Shire council wrote to the ARTC asking for a deliberate process to give the community more of a say outside the current consultations, including stepping back from an overpass option.

Mr Walker said the ARTC will continue to “work in good faith with Strathbogie Shire Council".

“We believe our plans for continued consultation and engagement will ensure the community continues to be informed and involved throughout the life of the Inland Rail project,” he said.

But councillor Sally Hayes-Burke, who also is part of the EWG, is not convinced.

"Two years have passed and ARTC is still speaking about building the same bridge that it set out to build at the beginning. I am convinced that Euroa deserves better from (the) ARTC,” Cr Hayes-Burke said at council’s February ordinary meeting last week.

“The ARTC is saying publicly that people want a bridge but is this due to apathy and lack of engagement?

“The message I am hearing loud and clear is that people want to see at least one alternative to a bridge."

Cr Hayes-Burke said she had heard from “hundreds of people” unhappy with the level and method of engagement carried out so far by the ARTC.

She also called for council to develop a rail precinct plan for Euroa, with a potential to allow for the development of a precinct plan in the upcoming council budget.

“We already have a township strategy that needs to be adopted, it is halfway there, it encourages growth and prosperity, connectivity, green spaces, urban landscapes, heritage and tourism,” Cr Hayes-Burke said.

“Let’s include a railway precinct plan that completes this missing part of strategic planning.”

It 's believed that Mr Walker, along with other representatives from the ARTC, will meet with mayor Chris Raeburn today.