[Greens-Media] Campbell must throw weight behind Maldon-Dombarton

[Lee Rhiannon]

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon - Media Release - 17 October 2008

Campbell must throw weight behind Maldon-Dombarton

Greens MP and transport spokesperson Lee Rhiannon today welcomed
Federal MPs Sharon Bird and Jennie George's push for completion of the
Maldon-Dombarton rail link and called on the Minister for the Illawarra
to show he cares about the region by more actively working to see it
happens. 

"Increasing truck movements coming from Port Kembla, peak oil and
climate change make it imperative the Maldon-Dombarton rail line be
built to cater for both commuters and freight," Ms Rhiannon said. 

"The problem is that Minister Campbell is blind to the need for this
critical service.

"During Budget Estimates on Wednesday Minister Campbell told me he
supports completion of the line but sees no role for the NSW government
in its completion (transcript of extract from Budget Estimates below).

"Mr Campbell is happy to sit on the sidelines and wait for the chance
that the Federal government will step in and fund this project.

"Mr Campbell needs to get out there and fight for the line, not cross
his fingers and hope for the best.

"The fact that Minister Campbell says he sees no business case for the
line, either for freight or passengers, beggars belief. 

"If that's the case, why has the Port Kembla coal terminal applied to
the Planning Minister to allow trucks on Illawarra roads 24-hours-a-day,
seven-days-a-week?

"The Transport Minister's performance to date suggests he agrees with
the road focused bent of his government and shows he is not the public
transport champion the Illawarra needs.

"A booming Port Kembla will see far more road freight moving in and out
of the Illawarra, risking accidents and lives and creating more
pollution and congestion.

"Completion of the Maldon-Dombarton line for freight and passengers
will create a direct Wollongong-Campbelltown-Parramatta link.

"The Rees government has a responsibility to make sure that some of the
wealth it is reaping from the massive expansion of the coal industry and
Port Kembla flows to residents.

"The needs of Illawarra residents for infrastructure and services
should be front of mind for Minister Campbell but he seems to be asleep
at the wheel," Ms Rhiannon said. 

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568

Budget Estimates * NSW Parliament * Wednesday 15 October 2008

Ms LEE RHIANNON: Moving to the Maldon to Dombarton rail line, do you
support its completion?
Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: I do, and I have said that very publicly.
Ms LEE RHIANNON: Do you support it as both a freight and passenger
line?
Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: I am pleased this question has been asked about the
Maldon to Dombarton rail line because I think it is important to point
out that it was commenced under a previous Labor Government to carry
coal from the western coalfields to Port Kembla. One of the first
decisions of the Greiner Government in 1988 was to cancel the line and
pay huge compensation to contractors. But let us be clear, the current
Government has maintained the corridor to ensure that if there is a
business case, the project can be revived. To date there has not*
Ms LEE RHIANNON: So does that mean you only support it for freight; you
do not support it for passengers?
The Hon. LYNDA VOLTZ: Point of order. Let the Minister give his answer.
He is answering the question.
Ms LEE RHIANNON: No. The Minister now is about to take up heaps of my
time. I do not have much.
TRANSPORT, ILLAWARRA
The Hon. LYNDA VOLTZ: You asked the question. You have to let the
Minister answer it.
Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: To date there has not been a business case that can
stack up to use the proposed line for coal from western coalfields or
for any other product to or from the port of Port Kembla, bearing in
mind that the Moss Vale line remains in use for some freight movements.
Another factor to bear in mind is that in 2003 the Commonwealth-owned
Australian Rail Track Corporation [A
RTC] agreed to lease and operate for
60 years a section of the interstate rail network that passes through
New South Wales. It is important to point out, therefore, that if the
Maldon to Dombarton rail line were to be built today as a freight link,
it would link to sections of the rail network operated by the
Commonwealth Government's ARTC. Therefore, decisions in relation to its
future construction are a matter for the Federal Government. To this
end, it is well known that as a pre-election commitment the Rudd
Government committed $300,000 to a pre-feasibility study of the Maldon
to Dombarton line. I recall that this year's Commonwealth budget
allocated this money.
It is my understanding that the pre-feasibility study has not yet
commenced, but it is intended to investigate the current and future rail
freight transport needs along the line, the capacity of existing
networks to meet demand and the construction requirements to complete
the line to service future demands. For me as a local member, as the
Minister for the Illawarra or as the Minister for Transport, the
political task would be very easy if someone waved a magic wand and made
that money available. However, the policy and funding realities do not
align with the populist political wish. For this portfolio I will make
the tough policy and budgetary decisions on issues such as these.
Nevertheless, the Government remains prepared and, indeed, is assisting
the Commonwealth to ensure the corridor remains by supporting the
pre-feasibility study and by arranging for the Port Kembla Port
Corporation to manage the contract of the $300,000 consultancy.
I would have thought that at a budget estimates committee a question
such as this would support the notion that governments make decisions on
projects based on fact rather than emotion. Notwithstanding that, the
decision to construct a rail freight line in New South Wales rests with
the Commonwealth's ARTC. I have not seen any information that would
suggest there is a passenger load for such a route.
Ms LEE RHIANNON: You would be aware that a forum organised by Arthur
Rorris from the South Coast Labour Council on infrastructure projects
for the Illawarra discussed the Maldon to Dombarton rail line and that
participants including local Federal members of Parliament recommended
that the Maldon to Dombarton rail line project be included in the New
South Wales project list to be submitted to Infrastructure Australia. It
was disappointing to see that 8 out of 10 of those projects are motorway
projects and that the Maldon to Dombarton project was not included as a
freight and passenger line. Considering that forum was held in your
area, the strong support from your colleagues and that you clearly
support this rail line, did you advocate to the Premier that the Maldon
to Dombarton rail line deserves support by Infrastructure Australia?
Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: As I understand it, the list of projects submitted
by the New South Wales Government were projects for which the New South
Wales Government would have responsibility. As I just pointed out, as a
freight link the Maldon to Dombarton line would be a Commonwealth
responsibility. So, in arguing for a share*
Ms LEE RHIANNON: But you know that Infrastructure Australia is not just
about New South Wales projects controlled by New South Wales; it is
about projects within New South Wales, irrespective of whether it is
looked after by the Feds or the State?
Mr DAVID CAMPBELL: I can only repeat my previous answer as to my
understanding that the list was about projects that the New South Wales
Government would be involved in constructing.



--------------------------------------------------
Lee Rhiannon, MLC
The Greens
Parliament of New South Wales
Macquarie St 
Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 
Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
lee.rhiannon at parliament.nsw.gov.au
http://www.lee.greens.org.au/
http://www.democracy4sale.org/ 

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