Petition and a letter to Mr. Adam Marshall, MP Northern tablelands

Friends of the Northern Rail line and Corridor,

This is to inform you that  I sent a copy of the petition along with a letter to Mr. Marahall's electoral office today.  Letter is copied below:

The Hon. Adam Marshall, MP

Suite 1, Ground Floor

175 Rusden Street

Armidale NSW 2350

15 December 2021

Dear Mr. Marshall,

Reference: The NERT Plan and the Future of Northern Rail Line from Armidale to Glen Innes and Wallangarra.

Armidale became home for me and my family almost 30 years ago when I took up an academic position at the University of New England. I have participated in many on and off campus activities, and over the past few years the loss of rail services to our north and the possible conversion of the railway infrastructure to a bicycle track has seen me discuss my thoughts with other groups in the area with similar aims and aspirations. There are many people within the community who know little about this proposal for our region and its implications, hence my making contact with you as our elected member.

I have enclosed a petition, signed by more than 1,500 residents and those with close links to Armidale and the Northern Tablelands region. The petition serves two purposes, namely, opposition to the planned closure of northern rail line and corridor to construct the New England Rail Trail (NERT) and to seek NSW government assistance to investigate the redevelopment of the northern rail line for passenger and freight rail services. 

Along with those who signed the enclosed petition, I would like to invite you to be ‘an advocate’ for both these matters in the NSW government and the parliament.

The construction of the NERT will require Armidale Regional Council (ARC) to source grant funding and closure of the northern rail corridor by legislative amendment.  This will have serious and unconsidered implications for the future status and development of the northern rail line, which is a significant public asset with economic, social, and other benefits to the communities along the corridor. A viable railway link can also provide strategic advantages during national emergencies. Re-instigated train services will provide far greater benefits to the Northern Tablelands than the proposed rail trail, which may only attract a limited demographic during temperate months. I am informed that The Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications can be approached to fund proposals costing more than $250 million and such proposals have to come from the State government.

A revitalized northern rail line can provide a vital back-up to the Inland Rail. As development of the Inland Rail Project proceeds to the north of the state, Queensland stands to benefit from the connection in terms of economic, social and tourism opportunities. This activity could require NSW government planners to consider the re-development of the northern rail line to connect with the Inland Rail, and also Brisbane. I am informed by Government sources that in the future, Inland Rail will consider proposals for passenger services from the region to connect with the Inland Rail line.

Closing the northern rail line and transferring the responsibility from TransportNSW to a regional council to construct a rail trail will be a major impediment to any future rail, residential, agricultural and business development in the region.

I understand the NERT Plan does not have overwhelming community support; in fact many residents seem to know very little about a “rail trail.” Some confuse it with a rail service. The short-term strategy to attract visitors to the rail trail (local pro-rail and pro-Armidale groups have doubts about the estimated visitor numbers made in the relevant NERT business case) shows that there has been no consideration regarding future use of the corridor for passenger or freight rail services.

The heritage rail group based at the Armidale railway station has been planning to run their trains north to Glen Innes for many years and currently in the process of examining ways to restore old trains for tourism. The popularity of the weekend “Picnic Trains” and the various heritage rail excursions around the state show the popularity of this key tourism attractor.

The Armidale Regional Council has not conducted due diligence or risk analysis on the rail trail proposal, nor have they undertaken deep analysis and market evaluation regarding any increase in visitor numbers to the region, quantitative investigation of rail trail user numbers or revenue earned from any additional visitors. According to the RT Plan, the ARC has to find more funds to promote the Rail Trail. In fact, the success of the plan depends on the level and quality of marketing. These are just some items that are of concern to us, particularly when government funds will be sought while the community is not in full support of such a proposal. There is a real risk of having to increase rates if the project goes ahead. Glen Innes Severn Council should also re-examine its commitment to a rail trail. Similar promises are the pattern of all rail trail proposals.

Rail trail planners who often provide greatly enhanced and unsustainable benefits guide many rail trail proponents.  One doubtful statement in the NERT proposal is the costing associated with maintenance of a rail trail. As a rail trail will never earn money, responsibility for maintenance – cleaning up after people, collecting and disposing of rubbish, repairing potholes or washaways, fencing, signage and malicious damage, will fall to the relevant council. The accepted annual maintenance figure in Victoria, where most of Australia’s rail trails are located, is 3% of the establishment cost. This table shows costing of the NERT Armidale to Glen Innes Rail trail compared to the NRRT Casino to Eltham rail trail.

 Armidale –Glen Innes
Distance- 103 km
Total Cost- $22,000,500
Cost /km$213,600
NERT- $95,000

NRRT -*$660,000

Casino –Eltham
Distance- 45 km
Total Cost- $33,300,000
Cost k/m- $740,000
NRRT - *$999,000
* Annual maintenance cost estimate provided by rail trail planning organisation

It can be noted from the above table that there will be a deficit in the budgeted annual maintenance costs of the New England rail trail of $565,000. What regional council can afford to absorb those costs?

I hope you will give due consideration to the matters raised in this letter and the petition together with the relevant ministers in the government and TransportNSW with a view to formulating a long-term vision, organizing a feasibility study including all options (passenger, freight, rail trail) as recommended by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet Community Consultation Report (2018), and a plan for restoring northern rail line from Armidale to Wallangarra for the greater benefit of the region and the community!

I will be happy to meet with you at a mutually convenient time with a few supporters of the northern rail line to elaborate on these points. I look forward to hearing from you and meeting with you early in the New Year.

Yours Sincerely,

Dr. Siri Gamage