BYRON SHIRE Councillors voted at their last meeting to join with Tweed Shire Council in discussing a proposed rail trail running from Murwillumbah to Billinudgel.
Tweed Council’s existing plan is to only run to Crabbe’s Creek, but Cr Hunter’s motion last week paved the way for both Councils to discuss continuing the trail to Billinudgel.
Cr Hunter’s motion also committed Byron Shire Council to supporting Tweed Council’s bid to get funding for the 24 kilometres of track required for its existing plan.
Tweed would likewise support Byron’s funding needs for the 4.9 kilometres of track running down to Billinudgel.
Council has also requested staff to investigate the various impacts on the Shire’s north associated with the new rail trail to Billinudgel.
It is cheaper for me to catch a bus to Ballina or Gold Coast airports and fly than to go by slow NSW trains.
Trains cannot rely on concession fare passengers to support it , they need full fare paying passengers . Having a train full of $2.95 fare paying pensioners is just not viable.
Now to get full fare paying passengers the train has to be reasonably quick or they will continue to drive .
Why would you catch a slow train when the Bruxner and Pacific Hwy can get you from Lismore to Tweed Heads in around 1 hr 15 minutes.
Bangalow to Tweed Heads in 45 minutes.
Ballina to Tweed Heads in 1hr.
Non viable and unrealistic is the term for the steam age alignment Lismore to Murwillumbah railway line , as spoken by Dr Philip Laird , Associate Professor at Wollongong University .
But the corridor does grow the best lantana and slash pines in the whole country , maybe a new industry could sprout from this ! ( But don’t rip up the rails , haha )
I state that the Councillors who have voted for this bike track, have not done their homework at all. They have not listened to the real need for decent transport; bikes will not and do not meet the needs of the majority of communities, let alone in the NEAR FUTURE. The ARUP STUDY ACTUALLY said the rail corridor really needed to be kept for future use! At the time, Transport Min Gladys Berejiklian said the same! Did they ever show any concern for our travel needs? Did they ever talk to the people who have had to endure this disgusting apology for transport – yes, that disgusting bus trip to Casino to meet the train there to travel to their destinations? No. When I have been on that disgusting bus trip, passengers have rung family or friends to pick them up at Bangalow to get them off! Also, how many times has the question been asked for the cost of that disgusting bus trip but silence – Qld bus company too by the way and more than one bus too!! A vote without correct knowledge, understanding or caring. Jillian Spring
Billinudgel must be so disappointed in Crs. Richardson, Cameron & Dey, for rescinding this motion.
This would have been an economic game changer for Billinudgel.
Don’t worry though. Your time will come, when true vision wins through.
The Greens are losing my decades long vote, with their blatant stupidity.
Great news