Labor candidate for Lismore Janelle Saffin has come out in support of building a rail trail.
‘The Rail Trail Project is one that will be of benefit to the local communities right across the Lismore electorate,’ said Ms Saffin.
‘The wonderful group of volunteers who are working to make the Rail Trail a reality, need to know that all state candidates are backing them.’
The statement is bound to cause controversy with a number of groups who are vocal about retaining the rail corridors for possible reinstatement of trains.
However, Ms Saffin has countered their objections saying ‘The Rail Trail community is unequivocal in its support for the retention of the rail corridors – to leave open all options for future transport development.’
‘I stand with them on that and previously acted to stop our rail corridors being sold off. I secured thousands of signatures from the local community that successfully put pressure on the state government and helped this happen.
‘When I was first approached by the inaugural Rail Trail Team, I told them that I was in strong support as long as they backed in the retention of the rail corridor. They did then and they do now,’ she said.
‘The Rail Trail Project sits comfortably with the development of a Regional Integrated Public Transport Plan that we desperately need in our region and one that I have and shall continue to advocate strongly for.
‘At Labor’s recent NSW Country Conference, I was successful in gaining unanimous support for the Regional Integrated Public Transport Plan motion, put forward by our Lismore Labor Branch.
Ms Saffin concluded, ‘As the Country Labor candidate for the state seat of Lismore, I have promoted both the Rail Trail Project and the Regional Integrated Public Transport Plan, to the Labor Leadership.’
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