However, the State Government will continue to hold on to the town’s rail corridor should it possibly reopen as rail or alternative transport corridor.

This news comes after the Herald last week revealed The Light Regional Council’s dilemma over land set aside for senior living in the town.

The land, to be developed by Lanser Communities, will include the rail corridor.

The council explained how it is now required to provide noise buffers for future residents, should the department decide to reinstate rail services.

In an email to the Herald, the department said they have not advised the council to be responsible for any future noise mitigation.

However, on August 26 the department revealed to the council ‘while there would be minimal separation between the rail corridor and urban development this would in no way impede the reactivation of the line and any sound mitigation measures would be the sole responsibility of the owners of the development.’

Also, ‘the onus for protecting the noise sensitive uses in the development from rail noise and meeting the criteria nominated must be placed on the developer’.

Nathan Cunningham, Light Council’s general manager of strategy, projects and engineering reiterated last week’s comments, “this is where the council’s view point differs to the departments.

“The department seeks to enforce existing residents to implement noise attenuation measures at some future point when rail activities may be reactivated,” Mr Cunningham said.

“The council’s view is, if a land use is to be reactivated, which makes significant noise, necessary measures should be put in place by those responsible for creating the noise to assist in minimising the impact from the renewed activity,” he added.