[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: 'Greens Motion Calls on Government to Reinstate Casino-Murwillumbah Line' -(Greens NSW Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC)

[Matthew Hilton]

Media Release
28/3/2014
Greens Motion Calls on Government to Reinstate Casino-Murwillumbah Line
NSW Greens Transport Spokesperson, Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC, has introduced a motion in the Upper House calling on the government to reinstate the Casino-Murwillambah line. The motion highlights Labor's role in closing the line and the Coalition's broken promises to open the line.

"I have called on the Government to reinstate the Casino to Murwillambah line and provide real public transportation options to the people of the North Coast.

"It has been ten years since Labor pulled trains off the tracks and the community on the North Coast is still waiting for the train line that the Coalition repeatedly promised them.

"This rail line should be re-established to make a regular commuter service for locals and tourists.

"The line does not have to be reinstated to XPT standards; there are other options such as a railcar or DMU which have lower constructions costs and flexibility in matching passenger capacity to demand.

"The Government study on the cost of rehabilitating the line appears to be very problematic, coming out at many times more the cost per kilometre than equivalent line rehabilitations in Victoria. An independent study of the Government's paper is urgently needed.

"This trend of massive overestimation of rail project costs has not only starved Sydney of public transport, but also regional NSW of much needed rail lines.

"I am deeply concerned about proposals to rip up train lines to build rail trails. Rail trails can be useful tourist infrastructure but should co-exist, not replace, rail lines.

"It would be madness to tear up any rail line or infrastructure, just because the current government lacks the will to utilise them.

"The government is prepared to spend billions of dollars on the wasteful and unnecessary WestConnex Tollway in Sydney, but has nothing to offer regional New South Wales.

"NSW needs effective, efficient rail services to link up our regional communities and create more employment and tourism opportunities", she concluded.

Media Contact: Matt Hilton 0423106247

The Motion #1772 (27/3/2014)
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/lc/lcpaper.nsf/0/8791D74A5CAEB5D8CA257CA8001DE1E0/$file/Notice%20Paper%20194%20-%206%20May%202014.pdf



That this house notes:



1.       That the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line operated for over one hundred  years and connected Casino and other northern NSW towns with regional centres such as Lismore, Mullumbimby, Byron Bay and Murwillumbah.

2.       That 2014 marks ten years since the then Labor Minister for Transport, Michael Costa, closed the Casino-Murwillumbah Line, leaving the North Coast with no regional rail services.

3.       That in 2006 Shadow Transport Minister Barry O'Farrell, now Premier, committed to reopening the line should the Coalition come into government.

4.       That National Party MPs in Ballina, Lismore and Tweed have in the past committed to reinstating the Casino to Murwillumbah rail services.

5.       That in April 2013 the O'Farrell Government's Transport Study over-estimated the cost of reinstating the 130 kilometre Casino to Murwillumbah line at $900 million, or more than $6.5 million/km.

6.       That there is significant community concern about the accuracy of these costings.

7.       That the Casino to Murwillumbah line in vital transport infrastructure for tourists and community alike.

That this house calls upon the Government to:



1.       Reinstate the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line, considering options such as railcars.



Matt Hilton
Legislative, Policy and Media Adviser

Office of Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC
Legislative Council | NSW Parliament
E: matthew.hilton at parliament.nsw.gov.au<mailto:matthew.hilton at parliament.nsw.gov.au>
P: (02) 9230 2625 | M: +61423106247|F: facebook.com/mehreenfaruqi | T: @MehreenFaruqi | W: mehreenfaruqi.org.au
Mail: Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

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