Government continues to ignore advice on Nth Coast Rail - 20 March 2007

A survey released yesterday suggesting there is overwhelming community support for a commuter rail service between Casino and Murwillumbah is the latest in over a decade of reports that the blinkered Carr / Iemma government has chosen to ignore on the issue, said NSW Greens MP Ian Cohen.

“The government had justified its 2004 decision to close the Casino - Murwillumbah line on the basis that the badly timetabled XPT service was not popular. What they have consistently chosen to ignore is the clear community sentiment and expert advice that what is actually needed is a local commuter service,” said Mr Cohen.

“In 1996 the Department of Transport made a submission on the Far North Coast Regional Strategy in which they said a local commuter rail service was vital to the region on employment, educational and recreational grounds.

“This citycentric Labor Government ignored its own departmental advice then and they have been ignoring the wishes of the North Coast community on this issue ever since.

“Yesterday’s report by Southern Cross University (SCU) researchers makes it clear that demand for a local commuter service would far outstrip even the 16 train a day light rail service that local lobby group TOOT are currently proposing.

“TOOT have extensively researched this proposal. It is workable, affordable and essential.

“According to the SCU survey over 72% of respondents claim they would use a local commuter service at least once a month.

“A further 91.2% of respondents strongly supported extending the railway line from Murwillumbah to the Gold Coast. This would be an essential piece of infrastructure linking two of Australia’s fastest growing regions. To not actively work towards this is government negligence of the highest order.

“This government is prepared to squander billions of dollars of taxpayer’s money on Sydney’s white elephants such as a desalination plant and the Cross City tunnel. They are prepared to spend further billions on upgrades to the Pacific Highway that are far beyond those necessary to ensure driver safety to placate their mates in the trucking industry.

“That they are not prepared to support a vital piece of regional infrastructure that would cost a fraction of those projects is a disgrace,” said Mr Cohen.

Further Information: Michael Hidden 0431 320085 or Ian Cohen: 0409 989 466