Der Rail Supporter,
Minister Sam Farraway presented the bill to amend the Transport Administration Act -1988 that will allow Councils to construct rail trails and even roads on unused regional rail lines like Northern Rail Line between Armidale and Glen Innes(and Wallangarra). YOu can read the contents of this bill by using the following link:
https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/bills/Pages/bill-details.aspx?pk=3985
Click on the Explanatory Notes on tight hand side to access the bull.
What this shows is that the NSW government is more interested (compared to Victorian and Queensland governments) in tearing up existing regional rail lines(unused) and converting them for recreational and tourism purposes or to build roads - more than renewing regional rail services to serve the people and communities in the regions. This is a most regressive step that I have seen taken by a government in the recent history of Australia. If this bill is passed, it will be the death knell of northern rail line that we so passionately fought to preserve and restore for the benefit of the peoploe in Northern Tablelands and New England(northern part beyond Armidale).
The show is not over yet. After 5 working days from yesterday the bill will be taiken for a second reading at which time the MLCs will debate it. Please contact MLCs in the NSW parliament, especially those in the opposition bnenches and express your views. Ask them to amend the bill, defeat it or refer it to a parliamentary inquiry so that we all can make submisions about the adverse implications of it. e.g. putting a stop to the development of regional rail in NSW. Imagine the Queensland government goes ahead with light rail and fast rail projects (recently funding was announced) in view of the next Olympics and in NSW we are being asked to be content with cycle and walking tracks on our regional rail lines? What a world we are being led to believe in by our government? It is creating an alternative reality for the people in Northern Tablelands/New England to believe in arguing that our region will be inundated with tourists once a rail trail is constructed. How about introducing a tourist train between Armidale and Glen Innes as some want to do? How about letting the businessman who wants to reocate his organic food business to LlanGothlin near Guyra and invest 4-5 million to restore the rail line?
You can access the contact details of NSW Upper House MLCs by using the following link: We urge you to do so in the next 5 days before they vote for the bill.
https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/pages/all-members.aspx?house=LA
This is your final chance to do something about this regressive bill and educate the MLCs that re-building regional rail -as in other states-is a far better option for the government to grow our regions. Don't delay.