In the third quarter of 2019, Kane Constructions was awarded the Lump Sum contract to deliver the new Puffing Billy Lakeside Visitor Centre at Emerald Lake Park in Emerald.
Puffing Billy Railway (PBR) is a major tourist destination located in the Dandenong Ranges, approximately 40 kilometres south-east of Melbourne. It receives over 500,000 visitors annually.
The unprecedented growth in patronage over the last five years has highlighted the need for significant infrastructure investment and development in order to meet the needs and expectations of domestic and international tourists.
The new Lakeside Visitor Centre enhances the Puffing Billy experience by featuring a café, commercial kitchen, visitor information services, interpretations, function rooms, staff offices, retail, educational facilities and amenities.
This project went through extensive formal public and internal consultation. The contemporary design, whilst notably in contrast to the usual heritage style of the railway, was selected by a broad panel comprising of internal stakeholders and external, independent experts and was determined to be the best design to meet the needs and expectations of the diverse range of stakeholders that enjoy Puffing Billy today.
The project reached Practical Completion in March 2021.