PAUL SPOONER, Deputy Mayor, Byron Shire Council has declared the push by Mayor Simon Richardson to establish a commuter train service on the rail corridor as grasping at ‘false hope’.
Cr Spooner was answering a question about his position on the Rail Trail proposal at a Byron Shire Meet the Candidates forum on Tuesday evening in Byron Bay.
Cr. Spooner said: “I don’t believe the Rail Trail is the only option for saving the corridor. The corridor is safe under an existing Act of Parliament. But we need to be sensible with this issue and realistic about our options.
“Firstly, our community leaders in the past identified this land as a public transport route through the region. It should remain in public hands and should not be commercialised for private interests.
“Secondly, a publicly funded rail service is not coming back on this track. No state or federal government is proposing this to happen.
“Thirdly, both Lismore and Tweed Councils have committed to establishing a Rail Trail on this corridor. This will kill any idea of a regional train service.
“Fourthly, as Mayor I would immediately begin discussions with the State Government about the utilisation of this corridor for public transport usage in the Byron Shire – this would include road transport, bus lanes, bike paths and walking tracks.”
Cr. Spooner claims, “We need to maintain our historical public transport corridor for what it was meant for – public transport. It should not be sold off. It should not be leased to commercial enterprises. It should be used for local transport uses.”
Wow, what a difference an election makes! For the record, this proposal has been about 2 years in the making. The ideas was first pursued by myself, Paul Spooner and a few locals. We created a Facebook page-the Byron Way-track plus trail- it is still up with over 4500 likes. Then, I emailed Paul, Basil and Duncan about 10 months ago outlining a need to push again-all agreed and were supportive.
Paul has also always been supportive of the elements service-a ‘commercial’ use.
I have had the courage to resist the state greens opposition to this plan- it is very easy from someone in sydney with their great public transport system to tell us we should have nothing unless it is publicly owned and operational-u when hell freezes over, i know the Alp has more central control, but really, some independent thought required here by the local ALP
To respond to some of the claims:
“Firstly, our community leaders in the past identified this land as a public transport route through the region. It should remain in public hands and should not be commercialised for private interests.” The proposal is to keep it in public hands-managed by a local trust. The elements train has a lease- they don’t own the tracks or corridor-they simply lease it and can be made to vacate with only 1 months notice. Paul knows this yet still talks up the ‘public’ ownership fear. Also, this proposal actually provides a public transport option, when no other option does , especially due to the ALP probably being the second last group in NSW about to promote putting trains back into this area.
2. “Secondly, a publicly funded rail service is not coming back on this track. No state or federal government is proposing this to happen. Agreed- so why say it should be a public transport corridor when there is no interest by either the old parties? Also, why not then support getting a public transport outcome via a private operator leasing the tracks and providing a service to the communily-isnt that better than nothing? if that occurred for 10 years until a train was slated for return, wouldn’t that have ensured the tracks are improved, the bridges fixed etc-wouldst this use make it even easier for a future state owned rail use?
“Thirdly, both Lismore and Tweed Councils have committed to establishing a Rail Trail on this corridor. This will kill any idea of a regional train service.” Yes, and the byron line can be extended to Lismore or Tweed- as both track based use and trail use will exist, either or both could continue across other councils- Lismore may see a shuttle works and bring it to Lismore for example. This proposal only adds to whatever other councils are doing.
“Fourthly, as Mayor I would immediately begin discussions with the State Government about the utilisation of this corridor for public transport usage in the Byron Shire – this would include road transport, bus lanes, bike paths and walking tracks.” Bus lanes in the rail corridor? A road in the corridor? I thought paul said there was no interest in public transport by the govt-but he has the great power to speak to them and they will reverse their decision and put buses into the corridor? If they were going to put more buses on-why wouldn’t they just put them on the roads? And if hell froze over snd that happened, why not then still activate the corridor? And making a level road to cater for buses inside the corridor would cost how much? And if this is acceptable, why wouldn’t the govt be keen on shuttles as well?
So- according to the ALP- trains and public transport aren’t on the horizon, so they will set about trying to get public transport. Hmmmmm, sounds like someone else from sydney, not Byron is pulling local ALP strings.
So, it is a shame that the ALP has tightened its grip on local representatives who can’t seem to stand independently on behalf of their community. Paul has supported the byron line model for over 2 years, has supported Elements and has supported an overall vision of multi-modal use within the corridor and now, has a great desire for public transport that he himself has stated will not happen.
C’mon mate, we know you are better than this, we know that in 3 weeks when i seek your support you’ll give it. This should not be about me or the greens, or your need to create separation and a point of difference, this is about getting a reasonably possible outcome for our community. If TOOT and NRRT have the courage and strategic intelligence to see that supporting this may be the breakthrough, surely you and the State ALP can do so also.
Good on you Simon for clarifying this I think somehow Paul twisted a few points just like Federal political manoeuvres Sorry to see that tactic being used You are on the right track Simon ! Thanks
Reality check that ks Paul
Dear Cr. Spooner ‘. I attended last evenings Meet the candidates forum ‘ and. I was glad to hear you ‘ commit to maintaining our Byron shire railway corridor. In public hands for the benefit of the greater community. I heartily agree that it should NEVER. Be allowed to be privately owned for one company’s profits…
However. For many months now I have been reading in our local news papers that The Elements resort. ‘ is intending to establish a rail service between their property. And the Byron township ‘ the articles I have read on this proposal very much sounds as if it is a fait – a’- compl’e… which makes me wonder. How is your ‘ concept of keeping this valuable. ( essential ) asset in public hands going to work in conjunction with the folks at Elements ‘ who would have us all believe that they are going to run their own privately owned diesel. Train too and from their back door to town and back as a private shuttle service for their guests ? I am confused as to how these two quite contrary. Proposals. Could both work simultaneously … could you please be so kind as to explain. What is actually. Going on about this issue… and what outcomes are most likily to be achieved, because I for one would very much like to know.
Thankyou.
Dear Cr. Spooner ‘. I attended last evenings Meet the candidates forum ‘ and. I was glad to hear you ‘ commit to maintaining our Byron shire railway corridor. In public hands for the benefit of the greater community. I heartily agree that it should NEVER. Be allowed to be privately owned for one company’s profits… However. For many months now I have been reading in our local news papers that The Elements resort. ‘ is intending to establish a rail service between their property. And the Byron township ‘ the articles I have read on this proposal very much sounds as if it is a fait – a’- compl’e… which makes me wonder. How is your ‘ concept of keeping this valuable. ( essential ) asset in public hands going to work in conjunction with the folks at Elements ‘ who would have us all believe that they are going to run their own privately owned diesel. Train too and from their back door to town and back as a private shuttle service for their guests ? I am confused as to how these two quite contrary. Proposals. Could both work simultaneously … could you please be so kind as to explain. What is actually. Going on about this issue… and what outcomes are most likily to be achieved, because I for one would very much like to know.
Thankyou.
Elements resort is leasing the rail corridor for a diesel tourist train .
Who is paying to repair the track ATM ??
Please explain
Jenny, the Elements resort is paying to restore that section of track themselves – no cost to the Council or community! And yet they are still going to let us use it! Their license is Non-Exclusive. So far they are the only ones offering to fix any of the track, and we hope it will encourage others to see the possibilities.
Elements are going to run the diesel train up to 40 times aday extremely close to our living quarters
The rail corridor has been built up since the XPT was shut down in 2004
It’s a new environment on the line and seriously demands an EIS
B4 trains can thump all over us!!
Could you explain XPT and B4 trains?
thanks
It has already been commercialised for private interests with the very shadey deal done with the Elements group .
Fantastic Paul Spooner , that is the only direction for the old Rail Corridor!