Page puts rail back on the agenda
Member for Ballina Don Page has put the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line back on the NSW Parliament’s agenda, moving a motion to put trains back on the line.
Mr Page put forward a motion that condemned the NSW Labor Government for axing the train and called on the Government to reinstate services on the line and commence the process of connecting the Casino to Murwillumbah line with the Queensland rail system.
The motion also commended the thousands of North Coast residents who have continued to support the return of rail services on the line even though it is over two years since the NSW Labor Government axed services.
Mr Page said Parliament would vote to support or not support the motion during the next Parliamentary sitting week, scheduled for the third week in October.
In his speech supporting his motion, Mr Page called on the NSW Labor Government to stop playing politics and put trains back on the line.
“The State Government closed down the line, it is a State Government responsibility to put services back on the line,” Mr Page said.
“The Liberal/Nationals Coalition has committed to putting commuter services on the line, if elected to Government in March next year.
“The Labor Government says it will cost $150 million over five years to put a train back on the track and to maintain the line to a satisfactory standard and replace all the bridges.
“However, the PriceWaterhouseCoopers Report states almost two-thirds of bridges are in fair or good condition, not needing urgent upgrading.
“By overstating the cost and saying they won’t do anything unless the Federal Government contributes $75 million, the State Government is trying to paint themselves as being interested in doing something.
“The $75 million the State Labor Government says they have on the table would be sufficient to get trains running again and to cover annual maintenance costs.
“The NSW Labor Government should stop playing politics and just get on with putting trains back on our track!”
