Why we need a Common Sense approach to Regional Transport in Armidale LG area rather than My way or

Dear all,

Many of you must be wondering why our council is going ahead with the preparation of another application for a rail trail, this time to Ben Lomond by spending 2 million of rate payers money from council budget to engage NSW Public Works and other consultants for preparing various reports and a rail trail master plan? The business case used however is 2024 one.

 Council efforts to secure full funding for the rail trail and NSW govt approval did not succeed during last 10 years. What guarantee is there that the council will succeed this time? Why is it that the council leadership favours rail trail project promoted by lobby group Friends of NERT over other projects to use the rail corridor for trains? Should the mayor convene a round table discussion of all stakeholders to identify common ground, unite the community and seek a better investment from government instead of trying to subscribe to nsw government's cost shifting exercise while pandering to the dictates of one lobby group? 

There are other transport projects proposed by the community with far better public, tourism and business benefits that our council should have embraced compared to the costly fail trail project originally proposed by Friends of New England Rail Trail(NERT).

Northern Regional Railway Company (NRRC), in collaboration with New England Railway Inc.,(NERi) applied in June this year for approval to operate heritage, passenger and freight train services from Armidale to Llangothlin. Their application, supported by many letters of support  from members of the New England community, is currently being assessed by UGL Regional Linx and Transport for NSW.

If successful, the return of train services north of Armidale could bring significant public,  tourism and economic benefits to our region and local businesses. A relevant question, therefore, is: what support have our Mayor and Council provided to this initiative? To my knowledge council support has been NIL.

Instead, Council is continuing to promote its rail trail proposal and is spending around $2 million of ratepayers' money on planning and preparation of reports through NSW Public Works and other consultancy firms. The proposal has unfortunately created considerable division within our community.

At our meeting with the Mayor and Council in March this year, we asked the Mayor to bring together the various stakeholders interested in the rail corridor to identify common ground. Our aim was to move forward as a more united community and seek better State Government investment that could benefit a wider section of the region—for example, a rail-plus-trail solution that preserves the railway while also providing recreational opportunities.

The Mayor did not agree to this approach and Council has continued with its rail trail proposal. I think it is reasonable to ask our independently minded councillors why they continue to support this course when substantial community opposition clearly exists.

The online petition opposing removal of the railway infrastructure to create a bike trail has attracted more than 5,500 signatures. The Trains North petition to the NSW Parliament has attracted more than 1,000 signatures. Whatever one's position on the issue, these numbers demonstrate that opposition cannot simply be dismissed.

Council was unsuccessful in utilising the $5.4 million funding it had secured in 2022(grant withdrawn in 2024), A subsequent  application relating to the proposed rail trail to Dumaresq and a larger grant application to Commonwealth govt was also unsuccessful. This raises another important question: what happens if Council's next application to the NSW Government is also unsuccessful?

By then, Council may have spent around $2 million of ratepayers' money on preliminary planning and reports without a rail trail being approved or constructed. Has the council considered this risk adequately?

At some point, I believe common sense should prevail. Rather than continuing with a proposal that has divided the community, Council should bring the different parties together, seriously examine the NRRC and NERi railway proposal,  rail-plus-trail alternatives, and work towards an outcome that delivers the greatest long-term benefit for the whole New England region.

I appeal to all rate payers and residents in Armidale LG area to pay special attention to the council behaviour on this matter and take appropriate action before the proposed rail trail becomes a white elephant. There are already several bike and walking trails in the LG area that need repairs.  There are tourist attractiins like Blue hole,Dumeresq Picnic area, various water falls for building a bike and walking trail without dividing the community.

 Rail line from Armidale to Queensland should be for trains more than bikes. When our neighbouring countries are moving forward with high speed rail,our councils should be advocating for faster trains to the north and south for greater good,better connectivity and human well being for all.