All power to Cr Simon Clough and the Lismore councillors who are able to see the benefit to the region, and the country, of a High Speed Rail system which could mean 150 tonnes less carbon going into the atmosphere.
That anyone could believe that the construction of HSR would be anywhere near as damaging to the environment and our communities as the construction of the Pacific Highway is mind boggling. Huge swathes of beautiful, rich soil are being bulldozed through the countryside, and people’s backyards, where we should be growing food. Let alone the carbon emissions from the vehicles who will be using it until the oil runs out. What then?
Given the cost and availability of oil, governments, who are currently being run by the powerful road lobby via huge donations, will be forced to back HSR as airlines are losing bucketloads money and cheap fares are unsustainable.
It’s imperative that the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line be restored for local trains to connect our communities to the HSR. It’s incomprehensible that an area which is a major national and international tourist destination has little or no public transport.
Louise Doran, Ocean Shores
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
