Ballina MP hits out over Casino-Murwillumbah rail link
Ballina MP and Shadow Minister for North Coast Don Page has called on NSW Transport Minister John Watkins to stop playing politics with the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line and respond to the Federal Government’s request for the detailed engineering report held by the State Government.
“Even though this is totally a State responsibility, the NSW Government has failed to supply the Federal Minister for Transport and Regional Services Mark Vaile and his predecessor Warren Truss with a detailed project proposal report and a copy of the engineering study, despite requests going back to July this year,” Mr Page said.
To date, the NSW Government had only provided a summary engineering report, MrPage said.
He said without this detailed information, the Federal Government could not make a final decision on a funding request by the NSW Government.
“Former Minister for Transport and Regional Services Warren Truss wrote to Mr Watkins in July requesting more detailed information about the proposal, ” Mr Page said.
“More recently Mr Vaile has done the same, yet the NSW Government has all but ignored those requests.
“The Federal Government has also asked the State Government whether other rail options have been considered by the NSW Government and have not received a response.
“This is further proof that the NSW Labor Government is not serious about putting trains back on our track.
“Mr Watkins’ decision to make the return of trains on the Casino to Murwillumbah line contingent on Federal Government funding, and then not supplying the requested information, is a clear ploy to make the Federal Government seem like the bad guy.
“According to the State Government’s own engineering report summary it will cost $21.7 million to make the line safe and put trains back on the track.
“If this Labor Government was fair dinkum about putting trains back on our track, Mr Watkins would stop playing politics and get on with the job by using the $75 million he says he has on the table.
“It is becoming increasingly clear the only way we are going to get trains back on the Casino to Murwillumbah line is through a Coalition NSW Government.
“The NSW Liberal/Nationals Coalition is committed putting commuter trains on the track, a commitment that is not contingent on Federal Government funding.”
