Northern Railway Defenders Forum (NRDF) members met Jenny and explained several rail initiatives including a heritage train from Armidale to Guyra and Glen Innes by Northern Regional Railway Company (NRRC) plus an Organic Food processing Business by owner David Peters. The former will contribute 5 million to the local economy and generate 25000 extra visitors per year. There are at least three rail tourism operators who would like to run trains north of Armidale at least once per month.

Jenny who had lived in Walcha and ran Walcha motel in the 80s with her husband before moving to Maitland is well aware of the tourism potential of the New England region and well-informed about the inadequacies of transport and related issues in regional areas. There is a huge potential for heritage rail journeys. NSW never coordinated this side of tourism sector. She believes Transport is a social determinant of health, education, opportunity and prosperity for the region. She recognises that there are competing interests and divisions in the community about rail services and rail trails but it is time to think smarter. For example, a shared pathway can be the way forward. i.e. on special days heritage trains can run. We believe that the multi use of rail corridor for various purposes rather than the single use need to be explored further by the councils and NSW government as in the case of Byron Bay Council and Parramatta council.

We expressed our concerns about the Bill to amend Transport Administration Act 1988 to facilitate construction of rail trails and roads on non-operational rail lines in regional areas. Basically the Bill will give the minister power to determine rail trail and road proposals submitted by councils are worthy for approval. A new Framework called NSW Framework for Rail Trails will be used in evaluating.

She listened to our ideas and concerns with keen interest while taking phone calls to her electoral office about the emerging floods on the day. Labor has not come to a definite position on the Bill mentioned above. But she will work with her colleagues to understand the intent and implications for regional transport in NSW as reflected in the Bill introduced by minister Sam faraway on 21st June 2022 before firming up the party position. Most likely Labor will propose certain amendments. Northern Railway Defenders Forum requested her to explore the possibility of referring the bill to a parliamentary inquiry so that we can make submissions on the basis of what is good for the New England region and our lived experience without train or coach services beyond Armidale. A newspaper article about Jenny’s visit appeared in Northern Daily Leader (reproduced in Armidale Express) on 7th July 2022.