Community Petition to NSW Parliament in 2024

Dear Train supporters,

You may remember this photo taken at NSW parliament with minister for regional transport Hon Jenny Aitichison  on the day our petition seeking passenger trains from Armidale to Jennings/Wallangarra was debated in February 2024.

I  don't have to remind you what happened since?

NSW government has been quite irresponsible in not listening to community aspirations and voices thus far.

Minister Aitchison instead of asking Transport nsw to do a feasibility study requested proponents of the petition to submit a business case. Community groups are not businesses. They don't have the nescessary funds to engage expensive transport consultants.

What is even more astonishing was that the  recently released draft regional transport plan for New England northwest  did not include any proposals to restore northern rail line? Quite unashamedly,  it actually says that  govt has no plans to do so. This was after promising us that the tfnsw planning team will consider all modes of transport when preparing the  regional transport plan for the next 20 years. We sent many submissions  on good faith to no avail!

 Govt solution for regional transport issues is to promise more buses and encourage councils to build active transport eg rail trails.

This is very disappointing to over 5400 signatories to this petition. It seems Minns Labor govt is all talk no action when it comes to serving the interests of regional residents?

Does this sound familiar?

Make up your own mind

May I encourage you to write to Premier Minns and his transport ministers to ask why this lacklustre attitude about your transport problems in New England? Ask them to explain why you have been let down by Transport nsw planners?  Encourage them to monitor the tmregional transport plan preparation process without leaving it in the hands of transport planners.