Rail options for the people of the North Coast were notable by their absence from yesterday's announcement of the Far North Coast Regional Strategy, according to NSW Greens MP Ian Cohen.
“Yesterday's Far North Coast Regional Strategy Announcement was road specific but rail vague,” said Mr Cohen.
“It is all very well to talk in platitudes about keeping the Casino to Murwillumbah rail corridor open as a possible future option, or to make nice noises about maybe investigating the possibility of a link with the Gold Coast.
“These are not plans. They are meaningless statements that don't commit the government to any rail service for the North Coast whatsoever.
“The Far North Coast Regional Strategy mentions fifteen different specific road projects. Under rail it merely says “XPT Upgrade”. This could mean anything or nothing.
“This government has no intention of providing the North Coast with the rail infrastructure that this rapidly growing region is crying out for. What they are trying to do is to protect marginal North Coast seats by keeping the issue under wraps until after the election.
“There is absolutely no mention of the local commuter rail service that the people of the North Coast clearly want.
“Local lobby group Trains On our Tracks (TOOT) have done extensive research and come up with a plan for a commuter service that would be better and cheaper than the inadequate and badly timetabled bus service that the government currently provides. (see www.toot.org.au ).
“Instituting a commuter rail service would also help reduce road traffic in the region. Less traffic would lead to less road deaths. “
“The consequent reduction in pollution would also be a further contribution towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions in NSW. “
“This total lack of commitment to rail for the North Coast simply demonstrates that this city centric Iemma government is not serious about providing infrastructure for regional NSW,” concluded Mr Cohen.
Further Information: Michael Hidden 0431 320 085
No comments:
Post a Comment