BYRON SHIRE Council obviously takes the task seeking out the best usage for its railway corridor very seriously. On Thursday they voted to spend $200,000 on a Feasibility Study.
Byron Shire residents need to monitor the Study closely, so make sure it doesn’t simply reflect the chosen options of a select few.
The Study need to carefully examine each and every option, stringently and transparently.
There’s no shortage of opinions about future usage of the Shire’s railway land.
To kick the ball off, former Byron Shire Councillor Mike Watterson suggested a forward-thinking, innovative approach.
Mike says, “A Sydney Morning Herald article about the State Government’s future usage and privatisation of its rail corridors got me thinking.”
“If privatization of unused railway land came into being, with affordability of housing currently of national focus. it might present a credible option.
“If you consider the railway land adjoining the three established Shire urban nodes – Bangalow, Byron Bay and Mullimbimby – all have the infrastructure available. Affordable housing could be an attractive option.
It’s a long term option, but perhaps Byron Shire Council could be encouraged to Joint Venture with the NSW Government on projects like this on the basis of “The Shire has the infrastructure, and the government has the land.”
Not only would it provide a range of enhancement to the Shire from affordable housing to markets sites in the tunnels and RV van/camping grounds, but it would also provide a genuine boon in tax revenue for the government, says Mike.
“And any talk of full track restoration is a sheer waste of oxygen.”
David Michie, Admin of Facebook Group Support Our Masterplan Byron Bay, agrees.
“Talk of restoring the rail track is a distraction. None of the proposed uses will get funded. Apart from taking down the fences in the CBD and making it public space, nothing will happen.”
David also says, “As far as I know none of the various rail lobby groups have actually looked at the state of the corridor they’re fighting over.
“Even the consultants who were paid megabucks by the NSW State Government didn’t look at 90% of the corridor.
Byron Shire Council Mayor Simon Richardson was clear:
“I support the Byron Line proposal as the best financially sustainable, employment developing and locally benefitting use.”
Tim Shanasy says just how valuable the land is that the corridor sits on is what is so foolishly overlooked.
“We appear to be in a fool’s paradise, toying with tram, light rail and rail car dreams etc. The Byron Line and TOOT really should get off the tracks and promote the rail trail, to protect the corridor for public use, and from impending sale pressure.”
Byron Bay’s Geoff Bensley feels that if there is no partisan support for a rail trail, the government will abandon and close the Northern Rivers railway corridor in 2019 and give farmers the option to buy the easement.
“Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon came and flew along the corridor with great fanfare back in April 2015 and did anything come of it? No, “says Geoff.
Geoff also pointed out most of the current track can never be suitable for use.
“Most of the Lismore to Murwillumbah railway line is built on steam age alignment ie sub 80km/hr. It cannot be rebuilt to sub 160km/hr standards without major straightening and deviations outside of the existing railway owned corridor. This will have huge ramifications for the farmers and landowners.
“Tweed Shire Council already stipulates in its Transport Strategy that it wants a future train system to follow the M1 Pacific Highway from Tweed Heads to Yelgun.
“Byron Shire Council does not have a Transport Strategy, flying blind one would say!” he says.
“We hope Byron Shire will come on board if their $200,000 feasibility study points in that direction.
“We’re Happy to accept whatever the Byron Line Feasibility Study outcome is, but unsure as to who would fund the project.”
TOOT’s options are pretty straight forward.
“We support multi use corridors – We want trains on the tracks with bike tracks running alongside were possible.
“We do not want the old XPT service to return – it was poorly timetabled and did not suit the needs of the community.
“We support frequent commuter services such as the BBRC Railmotor as this has benefits for the whole community and can take the pressure off the roads.
“We also support other initiatives such as the idea of using the line for trams like the Green Frog loco for passenger services.
“We also support the idea of using the tracks for ‘Rail Explorers’ which are peddle cars designed for use on a railway.”
Say NO to Rail Trails spokesperson also says, “It’s pretty straight forward really.
“The railway corridor needs to be maintained as a railway. The railway was built for the transportation of people and freight, and that is exactly what it should be used for now.
“The line could also support a tourist/heritage railway given the number of tourists who visit the region.
“There is absolutely no justification for ripping up the railway to provide yet another place to ride bikes. The existing cycling facilities all around the State are already underutilised at best, without providing more facilities
“Not to mention the cost of ongoing maintenance!”
https://www.facebook.com/SayNoToRailTrails/
Trying to join the dots together as to the person who administers this site . All the dots are aligning and follow words like ‘selfish,minority and rail destroying’ to unveil the person behind the Say No To Rail Trails site.
Why does most freight travel by road in NSW ? The slow winding Sydney to Brisbane railway line (steam age alignment) cannot compete with the straight and fast highways.
Ask yourself will you travel on the slow winding train from Bangalow to Murwillumbah and on to Tweed (1hr 15 min) or will you jump in your electric car for a 45 minute trip ?
A reasonably fast train from Ballina to Tweed following the Motorway corridor ,like we see north of the border, it how you get people out of cars . Tweed Shire Council has already stated this in its Transport Strategy 2012- 32.
Putting a train on an 1890s designed track does not mean people will use it , but the heritage tourist train groups like to think (or rather make you believe) that it will. Now who has the money for a $1 per kilometre fare?
Just put trains back. Simple as that. If you ask me white elephants like rail trails are the real distraction here. If certain people directed the same energy into return of rail with cycleways along side, trains would already have returned and a rail trail to the side would already be established.
It’s also worth noting there is NO plan to sell the rail corridor as Geoff Bensley and Tim Shanasy have said in their misleading comments. What they don’t tell you is the reason there is no plan to sell the corridor and the reason it is not already sold is because there is railway legislation (Transport Administration Act 1988) protecting the land from sale. The stand alone rail trail in order to be built requires this legislation to be removed, thus leaving the land voulnrable.
Stop the pain. It’s time to bring back the train.
Talk about selfishness, there is no consideration at all for all the people who actually want or need to travel by train & cannot in anyway go by bike. Planes only go to certain destinations, so forget that point we hear – go by plane! We are talking about actual TRANSPORT here. That disgusting bus connection (& the cost of the buses go to QLD) to the Casino railway station to give people the opportunity to travel to family, friends, south or north. We continue to hear of the local Byron/Mullum areas – forget about all the people who have to tackle that bus trip; connecting families, friends – tourism! To all the people who cannot ride a bike for all the known reasons, they are relegated to stay at home, wait for someone to drive them & no, those community taxis are not the answer either. Yes, we know the NSW Gov is land hungry – grabbing every bit of community land they can get their hands on! The Suffolk Park land an eg – the Roundhouse land at Ocean Shores sure was the debacle of the century & nothing but trouble with building there ever since, the Mullum hospital ground, parks in Sydney going – too bad about all the people who enjoy those parks. Yes, the mighty greedy dollar rules the day – too bad about the wider community. So we must endure the traffic madness on the roads. Talk about Sheriff of Nottingham & Robin Hood days – they’re here for sure!!! Jillian Spring