Former fire station crucial to Men's Shed faces government sell-off - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Greg Stewart and Elizabeth Cute from the Launceston and North East Railway are desperate to keep the Karoola fire station in the group's hands.  (ABC News: Hayden Smith)

A Tasmanian railway enthusiasts' group and men's shed says its future is uncertain, after a plan to sell a former fire station that has served as its headquarters. 

For four years, the group has maintained and restored the decommissioned Karoola fire station near Launceston.

The Tasmania Fire Service says the station is "surplus to requirements", with the group allowed to continue operating from the site until a sale is reached. 

In a secluded pocket of northern Tasmanian bushland, restoring a disused section of railway has become a passion project for dozens of volunteers.

Crucial to the Launceston and North East Railway group's operations is a former country fire station, which was in a "neglected" state when the group became primary caretakers of the property in 2022.

But it was just what they were looking for.

The Karoola fire station has been maintained by the railway group and Men's Shed since 2022.  (ABC News)

The group, which is also a registered Men's Shed, has restored and maintained the decommissioned Karoola fire station for the past four years.

"It's been crucial for our activities," said Launceston and North East Railway (L&NER) chair Elizabeth Cute.

Volunteers have helped maintain the station's surroundings for years. (Facebook: Launceston and North East Railway)

Now, the group's "devastated and distressed" members fear their entire mission is in jeopardy amid a government plan to sell the decommissioned fire station.

On July 7, Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Jeremy Smith wrote to Ms Cute regarding the Karoola fire station.

"The State Fire Commission (SFC), which owns the property, has determined that the site is surplus to operational requirements and approved the disposal of the Karoola Fire Station through a public sale process," he said.

Elizabeth Cute says the Tasmania Fire Service has backflipped on a longstanding verbal agreement. (ABC News: Hayden Smith)

Commissioner Smith said the group would be allowed to use the site until it was sold.

Ms Cute said the "huge blow" was in stark contrast to a "verbal agreement" the group had struck with the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS).

"They basically gave us the intention that they were going to give us the fire station down the track because they didn't need it," she told the ABC.

Ms Cute believed the department was focusing purely on the bottom line amid sweeping cuts to the Tasmanian public service. 

Brian McKenna is among the group's growing list of members.  (ABC News: Hayden Smith)

A Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management spokesperson said that, since 2022, L&NER and Men's Shed had "used the site informally and at no cost".

"While TFS initially considered a lease arrangement, no formal agreement was established," they said.

"L&NER has expressed a preference to remain at the site and has been encouraged to participate in the sale process."

However, Ms Cute said the group was not in a financial position to purchase the site.

The government says "no formal agreement was established" over the future use of the station. (Facebook: Launceston and North East Railway)

For longstanding members such as Greg Stewart, losing access to the site is tough to accept.

The L&NER vice-chair was instrumental in starting a new pedal-powered rail bug venture, which has been operational since May this year.

"For me it's devastating," he said.

Greg Stewart fears the rail bug operation will cease to operate.  (ABC Northern Tasmania: Sarah Abbott)

Mr Stewart said he would love to sit down with the TFS and politicians for a "commonsense chat".

"The gain for the community from this shed is so much more than selling it," he said.

Ms Cute said morale among members was low.