By ANDY WILSON

The efforts of a determined Euroa lobby group paid off last week with Inland Rail being held to account for the closure of the Frost Street underpass.

Interim CEO Mike Zambelli came under fire from Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie during the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport committee's session on Wednesday 7 October with Senator McKenzie giving a 'huge shoutout' to local advocacy group Frost Street Petition-883 for their campaign to keep the underpass open.

"The locals there...are very, very concerned by the behaviour of the Inland Rail agency about how the Frost Street pedestrian underpass is being removed from the Inland Rail project scope, given that the community has since raised significant concerns about safety, access, and daily reliance on the underpass," Senator McKenzie said.

"The claim is (that) there was not proper consultations with the residents in northwest Euroa given the underpass's role in providing safe access for school children, elderly residents, and people with mobility challenges."

When asked by Senator McKenzie on whose request the underpass was removed, Mr Zambelli said he did not recall the thoroughfare being on Inland Rail's scope.

"I want you to review that (answer) because it was on your scope," Senator McKenzie said.

Mr Zambelli took the question on notice.

Senator McKenzie also asked if Inland Rail had conducted any assessment of the social impact of removing the underpass and the social implications for residents, including loss of land value, a question which was also taken on notice.

She questioned the current use of the station platform as an interim route for residents to cross the tracks, saying it was not suitable for disability requirements due to design issues.

Frost Street Petition-883 Coll Furlanetto said Senator McKenzie’s questioning was 'exactly' what the lobby group had hoped for.

"The questions she asked at the committee reflected the concerns we raised directly with her, and we were pleased to see her deliver them with such clarity and conviction," Mrs Furlanetto said.

"It was evident that many of the responses given were incomplete or evasive; it was also clear that Inland Rail's CEO appeared not to have been fully and accurately briefed."

Mrs Furlanetto said access to the town for the northwestern community of Euroa was 'essential' and that the action group would remain committed until that access was restored.

"It just doesn’t make productivity sense to decommission the underpass after its temporary reopening," she said.

Mr Zambelli told the Senate committee that the underpass was not suitable for disability requirements.

Senator McKenzie challenged plans for the underpass's temporary re-opening.

"It would be much cheaper to actually upgrade the underpass because you're doing it as a temporary upgrade for a year anyway, aren't you?"

Mr Zambelli said there were a number of complexities taken into account in the design process, including underground resources and the preservation of a large gum tree adjacent to the underpass.

"That was all considered in the design process," he said.

Senator McKenzie also said the decision 'doesn't make sense'.

"You've used the disability access as a reason for removing (the underpass) whilst for the next 12 months it's going to provide disability access," she said.

"You're going to upgrade it to provide that disability access and then you're going to close it, prioritising that gum tree over people's access.

"And the community rightfully is saying that that seems like a waste of money."

Mrs Furlanetto said the underpass's long-term necessity was evidenced by its role during the precinct's construction.

"It will be the only pedestrian access during that time, which could be up to 12 months, so if it is to be suitable for that period, then it’s suitable to stay post the project."

She said she was now confident the Senate hearing would generate further traction with both the Government and ARTC and that it was now time to shift the narrative from avoidance to accountability.

"This needs to move from exclusion to equity," she said.

"Frost Street Petition-883 will continue to advocate for the original scope which included the upgraded pedestrian underpass as part of the Inland Rail Project legacy infrastructure to ensure the community remains connected.

"Access is not optional; inclusion is not negotiable."