Byron Shire business people who think that spending eye-watering amounts of taxpayers’ money ripping up a multi-billion-dollar train line to build a rail rail/bike track will increase business, need to check the empty shops and cafes in Murwillumbah, including a recently-closed cafe opposite the train station and bike track. Could be a case of careful what you wish for.
Perhaps more people with money to spend may visit Byron if they could come by train, with their bikes in any weather, and safely cycle or walk the streets.
Given the experience of businesses in other towns along the line, campaigning for train services will return more than a bike track.
Politicians constantly talk about the rising cost of living for low-paid workers.
The majority of jobs in the tourist and hospitality industry on the North Coast are low paid. No one cares about local workers who cannot afford to live close to their work and are forced to spend large amounts of their wages driving long distances to work as there’s little affordable or effective public transport alternatives. Just up the road, Gold Coast residents, workers and visitors can travel by tram or train for 50c. That’s the transport North Coast locals, workers, and visitors are entitled to.
We were told the train line was being closed as it was not cost-effective to spend money on maintenance that had been neglected for decades, despite the train service returning more for every dollar spent than Sydney trains.
But politicians think it’s okay to spend more ripping the line up for no transport, environmental, social or cost benefits. It’s ok to spend more on a bike track (that’s only used by a few in good weather) than it cost to get a train running on the line in Byron, which more people pay to use than the bike track.
The lack of rail services, the waste of public money on a free bike track that’s fast becoming a white elephant, and the political bastardry being inflicted on this community by Sydney politicians needs to stop now!
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. 
