[Greens-Media] Newcastle rail tests Keneally's credibility

[Lee Rhiannon]

Media Release - 4 May 2010 - Greens MP Lee Rhiannon

Newcastle rail tests Keneally's credibility

NSW Greens MP and Hunter spokesperson Lee Rhiannon says Premier Kristina Keneally's latest comments on urban renewal and public transport in Newcastle puts the spotlight on her credibility with regard to the future of the city rail line.

"Ms Keneally should be aware that Labor's chances in the Hunter region at the 2011 state election are closely linked with her government's position on public transport," Ms Rhiannon said. 

"Comments by local Labor MPs in support of the business push to remove the Newcastle rail line suggest that the NSW government may have already made up its mind. 

"Hunter Minister Jodi McKay statement that she does 'not support the rail line staying as it is' is  to be an off the cuff remark. 

"Ms McKay is very cautious in her ministerial work. It's hard to believe that her comments were not crafted to lay the basis for another attempt by the Labor government to close part of the Newcastle rail line. 

"If this is the course the NSW government takes the Premier will be seen to be compromised by local developers and businesses. It is widely recognised that the campaign to cut the Newcastle rail line is linked with the push to open up prime harbourside land for development. 

"The opening up of talks between NSW ministers and the federal government about funding for Newcastle transport options further suggests the government has decided to remove the rail line in Newcastle. 

"Ending the rail line at Wickham or any other station would come at an enormous cost as the truncated line would have to link up with other public transport modes to take people into the civic centre. 

"It would be ludicrous for the federal government to pay for a rail line to be removed, simply to be replaced with other public transport modes under a program that is suppose to promote liveable cities. 

"Newcastle has a well positioned public rail system in a world class location. 

"All that the Kenneally government needs to do is to agree to landscape the rail line and replace previously removed crossings with safe, strategically located crossings that would connect the city and the harbour. This would cost a fraction of the proposals involving cutting heavy rail.

"Ms Keneally would be wise to remember that the campaign to save Newcastle rail is now more than a decade old and many ministers and premiers have floundered when they have followed the poor advice of those developers with an eye on their own profits rather than the transport needs of local communities," Ms Rhiannon said. 

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568


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

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