[Greens-Media] Greens: More Central West NSW Grain Lines bite the dust

[Alison Orme]

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon - Media Release - 14 November 2008

More Central West NSW Grain lines bite the dust

Greens MP and transport spokesperson Lee Rhiannon is calling on
Transport Minister David Campbell to reverse his mini-budget decision to
close five more grain lines in Western NSW, saying this decision will
isolate communities, costs lives from dangerous trucks, increase road
maintenance costs and frustrate the efficient movement of grain (The
Land, 14 Nov 08).

Tuesday's mini-budget suspended following lines: Ungarie – Lake
Cargellico, Nevertire – Warren, Cowra – Koorawatha, Koorawatha –
Demondrille and Koorawatha – Greenthorpe.     

"In an age of climate change and rising oil prices closing five more
grain lines in Western NSW is an act of environmental vandalism that
will impact heavily on local communities," Ms Rhiannon said.

"This decision will effectively make Cowra and surrounding communities
an island, cutting them off from rail freight running between Melbourne
and Sydney.

"Local communities will pay the price of these cuts, both in terms of
lives and road costs which will now increasingly burden local councils.

"For decades the NSW government has been ripping the heart out of rural
rail. Right around NSW rural branch lines are either in decay or
closing.

"By suspending these lines the Rees government is effectively laying
out more red carpet for road freight which produces more greenhouse
gases, exacerbating climate change. 

"Trucks are the most energy intensive way of moving freight.

"Local communities will see more B-Doubles and other heavy trucks
rocketing along their roads, causing noise and air pollution and
threatening lives.

"The trucking industry already receives generous government subsidies,
giving them an unfair advantage over rail freight. 

"The Rees government should be focused on getting more freight back on
rails – a movement which is good for the environment, road safety and
local communities.

"Rail is cheaper, greener and cleaner but the government seems blind to
this fact," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568


Alison Orme
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Wed-Fri)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0432 332 104
Email alison.orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au 
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au