Shadow Minister Media Releases
Totally Inadequate Report From Nsw Labor’s Cross Border Transport Taskforce (28/04/2009)
The negative recommendations by Labor’s Cross Border Transport Taskforce does not change the NSW Coalition’s commitment to commuter and tourist rail services in the Northern Rivers, Shadow Minister for North Coast, Don Page said today.
Mr Page said the 5 page report is totally inadequate in addressing future rail links between the Northern Rivers and South East Queensland.
“The report is a reflection of the lack of commitment by the NSW Labor Government to public transport in the growing North Coast region,” he said.
“This report has all of the hallmarks of something that was whipped up recently, after public pressure to release the long awaited report. It is a very disappointing report and its negative recommendations reflect poorly on its authors.
“There is no vision for the future and no commitment to rail services in this report,” Mr Page said.
“There are no costings in this report, no economic benefit cost analysis, no environmental assessment, no social impact assessment, no commitment to identify a future corridor and no real attempt to integrate transport on the Northern Rivers with South East Queensland into the future.
“I believe there is great merit in providing local commuter and tourist rail services, especially to and from Byron Bay and to connect our rail system with the southbound Queensland rail line to Coolangatta,” Mr Page said.
“This report is the NSW Labor Government’s attempt to kill off the train issue once and for all.
“But it doesn’t change the Coalition’s approach to future policy direction, which is very supportive of train services on the Far North Coast eventually linking up with Queensland,” Mr Page said.
“That link will also guarantee future viability of rail services in the region. Especially in the context of increasing population growth,” Mr Page said.
