Dear TOOT supporters

In this issue

1. End of Year Drinks - Tuesday 15th Dec, from 5pm 

2. Byron Market Day Sunday 20 Dec - need people to help collect donations

3. Opening of new Qld Rail station Varsity Lakes on Monday 14 December

4. NSW Govt's Rail Sell Off Legislation

5. AGM will be in February.

1. End of Year Drinks & Dinner

Just for fun!  An opportunity to relax and celebrate the year.   Have a drink or even a meal with us. Bring photos.

            Tuesday 15th, from 5pm  - Middle pub in Mullumbimby.

2. Byron Market Day Sunday 20 Dec - need collectors!

TOOT is one of the charities of the day at the special Christmas market. We need people to help collect donations. Even an hour of your time would help. Please email Karin pres@toot.org.au or ring 6680 8516.

3. Opening of new Qld Rail station Varsity Lakes on Monday 14 December

On Monday 14th December Qld rail will be a station closer to us.  The new station at Varsity Lakes brings the rail 4.1 km closer to us. According to the consultant's report:

"It is estimated that the railway extension could remove about 7,000 daily car
trips in 2011 from the road network which parallels the Gold Coast to Brisbane railway line. This is equivalent to approximately 9% of the projected year 2011 Pacific Motorway volume south of Robina."

The current extension of the Gold Coast Railway (necessitated by the unwise destruction of the rail corridor 49 years ago) is costing Queensland taxpayers nearly $1bn for the infrastructure (excluding trains):Robina-Elanora (4.1kms) $320m,Elanora-Coolangatta $600m.(Source: SEQ Infrastructure Plan 2007).

For more on the new station, see Queensland Rail website

4. NSW Govt's rail sell off legilsation

Instead of providing transport, the NSW govt is defending their position of selling rail lines. They are sending out letters telling us how harmless the revised legislation is. Yet if you look at the NSW Parliamentary website, the original legislation is still there and could be presented to parliament again. So much for the promised "extensive community consultation". 

The SE Qld situation clearly shows that 15 years is a very short time for rail developments.

But we do get something: a hotline grandly called the NSW Transport and Infrastructure's Stakeholder and Community Management Division. Its 1800 678 720.

5. AGM moved to February

The AGM will now be held in February 2010.

www.toot.org.au

Postal Address:  PO Box 1292 Mullumbimby NSW 2482

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