Hans Lovejoy
  • Home
  • Music
  • Journalism
  • Editorials
  • Consultancy
  • Contact

Rail trail study funding avail: MP Page 

27/8/2013

0 Comments

 
Funding availability for a feasibility study into a rail trail on the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line has been announced by minister for the north coast, Don Page.

Northern Rivers Rail Trail Inc (NRRT Inc) warmly welcomed the announcement, however train advocate Karin Kolbe from TOOT (Trains On Our Tracks) voiced concerns that the tracks would be covered and a temporary bike path constructed over the rails. She told The Echo, ‘We need to have our bike tracks beside the rail, or to take our bikes on the train.’

Mr Page, when asked if he advocated a rail trail beside the rail or on the railways, said, ‘The rail trail would be for the most part on the existing track area and certainly within the rail corridor.’ 

Mr Page also said he would ­guarantee public land would not be sold if the project was to happen. 

‘The corridor will be kept intact, not sold, and be preserved for the possible re-introduction of rail services, should a viable economic model for trains become available at some stage in the future. The potential benefits for tourism and employment are significant.’ 

Previous study

The previous rail study of the region, which cost $2m, was blasted back in March by the Greens and TOOT (Trains On Our Tracks) for its narrow terms of reference, the exclusion of light rail, lack of comprehensive ground truthing and a bloated figure of repair comparative to an earlier Price Waterhouse Coopers report in 2004. 

And despite criticism of a flawed report, Mr Page referred to the 130-page Casino to Murwillumbah Train Study and backed his party by claiming rail is not an option as it ‘wouldn’t meet the current or future public transport needs of the region because two of the three largest centres (Ballina and Tweed Heads) would not be served.’

NRRT just shy of 5,000 supporters

Meanwhile NRRT secretary Steve Martin said the issue of covering over or removing existing tracks for a rail trail is a complex one and something which he hopes to have an answer on soon. 

He said however of his not-for-profit group, ‘We now have close to 5,000 community supporters, as well as backing from local government, tourism and chambers of commerce.’

NRRT was formed by a steering committee comprising local business philanthropists, known as the Sourdough Group, as well as volunteers and councillors and people working in the tourism industry. 

Its chairperson, Pat Grier, says, ‘The rail trail would act as the spine that links a network of communities, regional towns and villages.’

‘It would provide the platform for economic development, new businesses and jobs for the region.’ 

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Bangalow
    Bankruptcy
    Brunswick Heads
    Businesses
    Byron Bay
    Byron Shire Council
    Citizen Activism
    Coalition Nsw74559eefc4
    Councils Nsw
    Courts
    Csg
    Developments
    Election 2013 Federal1408dc025a
    Energy Renewable0d9dcbd6e5
    Energy Renewablea6a8ed8ef1
    Environment
    Federal Greens
    Federal Politics
    Fossil Fuels
    Government Nsw
    Government Nswf004302135
    Holiday Letting
    Human Rights
    Labour Federald4cdc6ff19
    Law And Order
    Lobbyists
    Media
    Mullumbimby
    Nationals Party Nsw
    Nuclear-power
    Planning
    Police Conduct
    Politics-world1ecd200e41
    Railways
    Transport
    West Byron
    Whaling

    Archives

    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Music
  • Journalism
  • Editorials
  • Consultancy
  • Contact