Dear all,

Community First Independents plan to stand as a group for election at the forthcoming Local Government election in the ARC. 

Armidale regional Council will have 9 Councillor positions.

It is highly important to get candidates who support the protection of northern railway line north of Armidale for future train services and not sacrifice it for a temporary bike trail as wanted by the current council to satisfy a few able-bodied people rather than the many including those in vulnerable demographic groups who deserve a decent passenger train service. Though the provision of public transport -rail and buses- is the responsibility of the NSW government, local councils -if they have a longer-term vision- can play a crucial advocacy role with both levels of government to represent the community views.  

You may remember the 10740-signature community petition debated on 8th February this year in the NSW Legislative Assembly. It reflects community views on the subject as much as the current online petition that you have signed.  Armidale Regional Council leadership is not heeding to this expression of community views about the need to protect the northern rail line for future rail services (passenger, heritage and freight).  Instead, they are promoting the New England Rail trail from Armidale to Ben Lomond -the first stage being to Dumaresq(9.4kms) on which it intends to spend the 5.4m Bushfire grant. Per km cost to construct this rail trail (bike trail) is going to be very high and if the rail trail is approved by the NSW government, there is going to be further costs for maintenance as well.  

If we go by the experience of rail trails in Northern rivers, the annual cost can be $200,000. On the top of this there will be a governance cost and costs associated with co-funding when the council applies for government grants to complete the project. The latter can run into millions.

Community First Independents believe that the Armidale Regional Council should not use a single dollar raised by the 58% rate rise last year for the construction or maintenance of the rail trail project between Armidale and Dumaresq/Ben Lomond.  In fact, this position is in line with the motions passed by the council previously.  

There are more important projects such as the hydrotherapy pool, road and footpath repairs, Creeks lands development, CBD reinvigoration, securing our water supply, attracting more businesses and industry, assisting the New England Railway Inc to implement its plans to operate heritage trains north of Armidale that the council can invest its funds raised by the rate rise.

Many existing residents and rate payers are hurting from the 58% rate rise implemented already. Therefore, a newly elected council has to be extremely careful how it spends the additional funds raised by the painful measure.

You can access more information about the Community First Independents by visiting their face book page at

https://www.facebook.com/groups/894636952492026

In coming weeks, look for their campaign materials in various towns and villages.  Provide any support that you can give to get the candidates across the line.

Candidates in the group are:

1. Rob Taber 2. Rob Richardson, 3. Siri Gamage. 4. Josephine Newberry 5. Andy Berriman

Rob Taber's Contact -0428751275

Email: rtaber123@gmail.com

(Authorised by Siri Gamage, 6 Crest Road, Armidale NSW 2350)