Media Release: 28 April 2009

Cross Border Report Rejected: Politics over Planning

Karin Kolbe, President of TOOT (Trains On Our Tracks), has slammed the NSW Government’s Cross Border Transport Taskforce report, finally released yesterday more than 18 months late, as an exercise in politics over good planning.
 
Ms Kolbe said:
 
“The five page Cross Border report released yesterday doesn't even address its own terms of reference.”
 
“It doesn't 'investigate potential rail links' nor does it look at any costs.”
 
"This report was politically motivated and shows no evidence of any planning for the needs of residents or tourists."
 
“It understates the population growth figures*, and it completely ignores the tourism figures. Over 3 million tourists visit here annually, yet they aren’t even mentioned in the report.”
 
“Tourism is to our region what coal is to the Hunter Valley, yet there is no interest in developing transport infrastructure to support our major industry.”
 
"86% of residents in the Lismore and Byron Shires live within 5 km of the Casino- Murwillumbah line (ABS, 2006), and the Lismore, Byron and Tweed shires all have higher population densities than over areas with regular rail services, such as the Southern Highlands and the Hunter Valley.”
 
“This was a flawed process all along, as there was no serious analysis of the actual transport issues within the region, no proper community consultation process, and the public submissions totally ignored.”
 
“The Minister even admitted on ABC radio this morning that he'd never visited the area to look at our transport needs. Perhaps he should come and have a look around for himself, and talk to the local community about the transport issues they confront, then he might at least be able to credibly claim to be making informed decisions on these matters.”
 
 
* Population figures
 Our population increased in the last year by 3727 yet the Report mentioned only 2500
 
ABS Local Govt Are Population Figures

In the twelve months to 30 June 2008 Tweed Shire had fourth fastest population growth rate in the state, at 2.6%.
Population growth rate for Byron Shire was 1.6%, higher than Ballina which had 1.5%.
Lismore was up 0.6% and Richmond Valley up 0.8%.
Across the state population growth was 1.1%.