It is worth noting and sharing with the community that the loss of our valuable train service was a decision made during the Carr/Costa Labor government, a decision which generated many millions to the then government.
This fact has been revealed in the book of Mark Latham a much maligned politician. So the legacy that we now face in Byron Shire stems from decisions made pre-ICAC.
Large petroleum companies don’t want trains do they?
Furthermore, as citizens we are constitutionally entitled to freedom of movement.
We need to research the conditions that made it possible for our publicly owned state rail-line to be acquired by a private corporation in order to run a type of Disney train and not servicing the greater good/needs of the larger tax paying community.
It must be further noted that constitutional legal remedy is offered should a legal technicality occur within state policy. In other words, the federal legal powers over-ride those of state legal powers concerning rail-ways.
Facing the onslaught of non-sustainable development, fairy-floss train rides, thousands more cars on Ewingsdale Road, extreme weather conditions, no evacuation plan, ecological destruction and so on, it is only right and proper that the community stand up and loudly say ‘No! Enough is enough!’
There will be a better way forward once the slime and mud is cleaned from the well.
Diana Jo Faith, Newtown
I agree that history of poor transport infrastructure policy and development leaves this region in the lurch, heavily depending on cars.
I also find all the terms used to be confusing: ‘light rail’, ‘rail trails’ ‘commuter rail’ and ‘regional rail’ and high speed rail’ — because examples show the terms describe services which overlap —
http://www.lightrail.nl/
http://www.lightrail.nl/lightrailatlas/lra-pages/lra-examples-english.htm
http://www.lightrail.nl/bicycles/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_Fast_Rail_project in Victoria
The North Coast railway line has been used for all local/regional and long distance purposes. In closing it, the area has been left behind as rail around the world diversified. Is there a way to re-consider the full suite of diversified multiple uses? Light and regional might work on tracks that exist but higher speeds, long distance may need a new dedicated track.
I notice this comment from Rob van der Bijl, an urban planner in Amsterdam ” it’s a common assumption: “Well, there are (in Netherlands) a lot of amenities, infrastructure, et cetera for bicycles — so, hence, bicycles are successful,” he said. But he argues that in reality, the opposite is true: “The existence of all these facilities and infrastructure are the result of the success, not the cause of the success.” In short, the answer to replicating the Dutch bicycling success in America might be a lot more complicated than building better bike lanes. “ In one word,” van der Bijl said, “I would say it’s a matter of culture.” Boston Globe, September 22, 2013
I’d love to see a description of current and projected North Coast transport culture plus some travel usage maps for the full ranges of vehicles (from trucking to walking). This would need to include festivals and other tourism needs too. Has anyone produced one?
Jo,
Don’t have faith in politicians to do the best for the people they represent. There is no money to erect any new town Jo. Politicians represent themselves.
The answer to the dilemma is as simple as breathing air.
Before the last election Barry O’Farrell hinted to Tony Abbott that NSW needed an increase in the GST. That Tax increase is a sensitive subject so Tony Abbott rejected it for the Federal election. He won the election so we could say it was a good decision to reject an increase in the GST. It also was a bad decision as Joe Hockey says we are in big debt, a big economic hole.
The Goods and Services Tax is a Tax, and is paid to the Federal government whenever anyone buys a service or a product. They then share it out to the states for Hospitals. Barry O’Farrell wanted to increase a tax. And that is the way the states gain money from the State taxpayers. So the NSW premier wanted the tax increased. That is one tax, and taxes, maybe all taxes need increasing. The States would then have the money for the infrastructure of this state of NSW. Roads, Rail, Electricity, Air Services, Airports, Housing for the Homeless, Public Housing and a lot more. There is not even enough money to fix up the eroding coastline against the ocean such as at Belongal Beach. Add all those essential things that we need and it may come to about $50billion just for NSW. And how do you raise that money? The same as King John did in Medieval times in England. You Tax the people. And you ban Tax avoidance schemes of those who are avoiding Tax. Do all that and the NSW government would have the money to put rail lines all over the state, and hospitals and more schools and give power back to the people. But it is unpalatable to increase Taxes and the politician who does do it is not likely to win an election. So just who is responsible when we have no train services or hospitals or airports. We voters are responsible for the mess the NSW state is in and in how run-down and derelict the community is in, in not having essential services. We did it to ourselves because we only vote for the politician who won’t tax us but give us tax cuts. Tax cuts are nearly a perennial promise handed out at elections. Then when we elect the most popular and likeable politician they cry poor and say that the State is broke. Boo hoo.
Give us a politician who will tax us to the eyeballs and give the money back to us in infrastructure and services and then we know we have a good politician.