Darren Coyne
A proposed high-speed rail project could have Lismore residents traveling to Brisbane to work in just 45 minutes, or to Sydney in just 2.5 hours.
Lismore city councillor Simon Clough will tomorrow ask his fellow councillors to back the report, which he says would cost $30 billion less than the costing from the previous federal (Labor) government.
The high-speed rail project is collaboration between the German Aerospace Centre, the Beyond Zero Emissions group and the University of Melbourne’s energy research institute.
The proposed high-speed rail network could be powered by 100-per-cent renewable energy, according to the report.
In his motion to the council, Cr Clough said it was ‘estimated that greenhouse gas emissions from regional travel would be reduced by 150 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent over 40 years of operation compared with business-as-usual’.
‘Emissions created from the HSR construction would be offset after five years,’ he said.
‘$84 billion is the total estimated construction cost including rolling stock, project management and contingency.’
Cr Clough told Echonetdaily that ‘what this all needs is some leadership and vision’.
He pointed to the current federal government’s claim to be focused on infrastructure as a good reason to believe the high-speed rail could become a reality.
He said the old rail network was 19th century technology.
‘This is late 20th century technology and that’s got enormous advantages which could see dramatic changes to cities like Lismore,’ he said.
‘People are already living in Lismore and working in Brisbane but with this proposal their commute would be just 45 minutes,’ he said.
The report to be considered by the council was based on what an actual builder and operator of high speed trains had experienced.
It identifies routes, station locations, fares and even a train timetable.
‘The authors believe that the whole network, Melbourne to Brisbane can be delivered in 10 years and would cost $30 billion less than the costing from the previous Commonwealth government,’ Cr Clough said in his motion.
According to the report, a station would be built on the south side of the showgrounds, and Lismore would be the third stop going south, after Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Cr Clough wants the council to write to federal infrastructure and regional development minister Warren Truss and federal minister for trade and investment Andrew Robb to recommend acceptance and implementation of the Zero Carbon Australia High Speed Rail Report.
Yet another reason to ensure the option of light rail on the Casino to Murbah line is kept open – sooner or later we will have a govt with vision to build something as this, and a light rail connecting the local area with a HSR station at Lismore would be ideal.
well congratulations cr clough about time some one that can think for the future instead of the negativie of a nonpraticle rail trail well done
OH MY GOD !!!!!!!
Yep, “what this all needs is some leadership and vision”
And umm, maybe some cash too. But geez, it’s $30 billion OFF . .
Better hurry while stocks last . .
Hmm , , $30 billion off WHAT?
Hey, it might be better and a bit cheaper to actually create jobs in and around Lismore, than to fast track our valuable colleagues up to Brissie and back 5 days a week.
Never thought of that . . .
I think we need to build many many more tracks, , between our neurons . .
And hey, getting our region’s Rail Trail up and available for maybe 99% OFF any High Speed Rail cost, will provide many job options for our poor Lismore to Brisbane commuters too.
“leadership and vision” ??? Give me a break . .
Please think again . .
Lismore residents had the good sense to elect a forward thinking councillor, more power to them. Hopefully the council will back the report. All councils, via NOROC should be doing the same. Will Byron Shires’ ‘green’ council be left behind while the conservative councils back 21st century technology?
At the moment both ALP and LNP are being run by developers and the road transport lobby, via their large donations, and have no interest in trains or public transport. With the increase in cost and availability of oil and airlines losing buckets of money, or going bankrupt, governments will be forced to back HSR.
We have to make sure the state government doesn’t waste $75m of our money ripping up the Casino to Murwillumbah line as we’ll need local trains to connect to the HSR.
Imagine getting pans on one of those trains! Noice one brutha.
By their map it seems they want it to travel south along the Pacific Highway from the Gold Coast. Then turn west somewhere around Bangalow, then travel somewhere near the Lismore/Bangalow Road on to Lismore. Tho it’s pretty hard to see, there’s not much detail in that section.
Yes we would certainly welcome a quick rail connection with the Gold Coast and Brisbane, and if we can restore the Casino-Murwillumbah line for light rail in the meantime that would be great because what we really need is a local commuter service. At least the HSR project shows an important place for the rail corridor into the future and shows why we must keep it ready for trains.
Do we really want Lismore to become a distant outer suburb of Brisbane or – heaven forbid – Sydney? What about a steady-state economy with a five minute cycle to socially and environmentally useful work in stronger community? One where we are not just consumers or commuters as is the lot currently of so many in Brisbane or Sydney. Just a thought.
Yes! This is just what we need! a HSR connecting Sydney, Lismore, GC or Brissy! We also need to re open the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line to light rail in order for a good future for the region