Dear Rail Supporters,

As we approach the end of 2024 and the beginning of a new year, I wish to send my best wishes for all of you who signed the petition and contributed financially and otherwise to promote it.

This year we faced Local Council elections leading to changes in the composition of councillors and in the case of Glen Innes change of the Mayor. We also learned about the withdrawal of bushfire economic recovery grants from the government to both councils for the purpose of constructing rail trail between Armidale and Glen Innes. However, in the October meeting of the Glen Innes Council, it reaffirmed its desire to continue with the rail trail (their section from Glen Innes to Ben Lomond).  Armidale Regional Council Mayor stated recently that the Council has applied for a 21m grant from the Regional Precincts and participation program to construct the rail trail from Armidale to ben Lomond.  Results of this application expected this month.  You can see the guidelines and other details of the grant program here: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions-cities/regional-australia/regional-and-community-programs/regional-precincts-and-partnerships-program

Email address is regionalprecincts@industry.gov.au

It is unwise for these two councils to persevere with the rail trail plan with strong community opposition from the two LG areas including through the petition you signed here.  The primary objection of residents is the plan to remove the rail line north of Armidale between Armidale and Glen Innes at a time when the corridor needs to be used to operate train services for passenger, freight and heritage purposes. When we look around what is happening it is clear that a region cannot move forward, attract industry, population, business, professionals and investments without better ground connectivity to other fast-growing regions.  In our case to the north we have South east Queensland with over 4 million people.  To the south we have Newcastle and Sydney with many millions. Currently we have only one daily train connecting Armidale and Glen Innes to Sydney.  There is only one daily coach connecting Armidale station with Glen Innes and Tenterfield. Those in Guyra, Glencoe, Glen Innes, Deepwater, Tenterfield and Wallangarra are severely impacted by the poor public transport options available. Nonetheless, our councils, political masters and the State government bodies like TFNSW pay very little attention to change the situation for the better.

All is not lost however. Our rail supporters are more vocal now compared to a year or so ago.  They are better organised and informed. The media pay attention to what we do and say.  State government has a process to gather information from the community to formulate New England Northwest Regional Strategic Transport Plan (see previous update for details).  I encourage you to communicate your concerns about the poor public transport in New England as well as your aspirations or suggestions to make it more effective and useful for better mobility. We need an integrated regional transport plan where buses connect with train, airport, taxi services, active transport etc.  There is no point in planning a rail trail to remove one such transport options we can have in the future between Armidale and Glen Innes. Current train service to Armidale needs to be extended to Glen Innes.  It will not cost billions of $s as some claim. However, it is true that the State government invests billions of $s in Sydney for rail infrastructure. For example, after about 7 years of planning and construction, people in Western Sydney will be able to travel by the Light rail from today between Carlingford and Westmead via Parramatta. It cost nearly 3 billion. We congratulate the government and people there for getting a state-of-the-art train service so that they can keep their motor vehicles at home to get to work or consult doctors or do shopping.  We urge the NSW government to spend at least 1 1 billion to restore northern rail line between Armidale and Wallangarra near the border.  The distance is about 215kms. Government can build more kms here in our patch for the same amount of money it spent to build the Light Rail in Parramatta even extending to Brisbane.  Imagine the economic and social benefits including tourism that will generate from such an investment.

The councils and governments (both levels) need to look at the big picture when it comes to regional transport. In fact, both governments have made it a priority to decarbonise the transport sector in order to meet net zero targets.  For example, they want to see a shift of freight from roads to rail. The NSW Freight review (on going) is focused on coming up with proposals to reform the freight policy including removing bottlenecks in Sydney.  The problem is it is mainly looking at Greater Sydney without giving due consideration to regional supply lines and even how to shift freight from road to rail. Restoration of northern rail line is imperative to take thousands of rucks off the New England highway and reduce accidents.

There is more to say but I will keep you updated in the new year.  In the meantime, stay safe and enjoy the season!