From 1909, the historic Tūātapere railway station was the terminus of a route from Invercargill.
But after the closure of the railway line in 1976, the building was left without a clear purpose.
Meet the Tūātapere Te Waewae Community Board, who secured up to $310,000 in Better Off funding for a rail tourism precinct on the site in January 2023.
The Southland District Council subsequently called for proposals, with the yet-to-be-formed Tūātapere Railway and Heritage Trust Board submitting the only application that met the requirements.
Their vision was to restore the buildings and operate the area as an information centre, with the possibility of leasing it commercially to cover costs.
Last week, the project reached another milestone when the community's board approved the foundation's proposal, subject to it being granted charitable status.
A statement from the district council states that the project will secure the future of the station.
“We look forward to seeing a refurbished historic train station and making the precinct attractive to visitors and residents who want to enjoy an important part of Tūātapere's history,” the report said.
A report prepared for the meeting noted that the train station had already undergone a number of restoration works thanks to community groups, including improving the flooring and reinforcing it to withstand the elements.
Anne Horrell, president of the ward council, said the building has been used by several people over the years, including a church youth group.
According to her, local volunteers have completed more than 100 hours of repair work over the past year.
The $310,000 will be spent on acquiring land behind the station if needed, installing rail tracks and a historic locomotive or railcar, beautifying the area and investigating the possibility of relocating a water tank.
Because a community board member was also listed as a member of the trust, the report pointed to a potential conflict of interest.
It was decided that the Member would remain out of all discussions on this week's report, the decision and any future decisions, while fulfilling the dual role.
The foundation hoped to be able to showcase local achievements at the renovated location, including records in the field of shaving and axe cutting.— LDR is a local journalism organisation co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air