| Seat of Page: Theo Jongan (Green) |
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1. What is your or your party’s policy regarding the Casino-Murwillumbah rail line? 2. Do you or your party support the reopening of the line? Include details of any funding commitments and timeframes to reopen the line. 3. Do you or your party support the running of commuter services on the Casino-Murwillumbah line? Include details of any funding commitments and timeframes to establish commuter services. NSW Greens MLCs Lee Rhiannon and Ian Cohen have been active proponents of reopening this rail link for years. It is just common sense, for both freight and commuters struggling with petrol prices. With Oil's availability declining and price increasing, it make sense to invest in better public transport infrastructure now.
Southern Cross University's recent survey shows strong community support for a commuter rail service.
The inevitable introduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions targets means that this line will reopen sometime. Why not now?
This would achieve good public transport outcomes by improving access to jobs and services in SE Queensland, including the new campus for Southern Cross University which is being constructed next to the Gold Coast Airport. Fundamentally, the linking of this line to the Qld Rail system will boost the viability and usage of the Casino-Murwillumbah line.
However, as the planning for the Pacific Motorway and Tugun bypass in this region has shown, it's very difficult to find a new transport corridor without fragmenting already small and shrinking habitats and/or upsetting hundreds of residents.
I would support such a link only if a route could be found, preferably along an existing corridor, which avoids severe ecological impacts and if residents affected both directly and indirectly are compensated fairly and quickly.
5. What is your or your party’s policy on transferring freight to rail? How would this be achieved? Include details of any funding commitments and timeframes. The Greens recognise that a high quality national rail network is essential to a modern economy. It is Greens policy to raise the rail network to a standard which enables the operation of fast freight (and passenger) trains, with critical components publicly owned and controlled. Many drivers on local roads and on the Pacific Highway in particular are intimidated by truck and B-double traffic.
I support moving as much interstate freight as possible onto rail to make our roads safer. This will soon become necessary in order to meet Greenhouse Gas emissions targets as well as reducing fuel use.
6. What are your or your party’s polices for managing increased congestion, safety, amenity, social and environmental issues if accessible rail services are NOT provided over the next five years? Include any estimates of the extra costs involved in managing these impacts. We support village bypasses and urgent safety upgrades on the existing road network.
Considering the long-term price and availability of oil and the inevitable introduction of Greenhouse Gas emission targets, we have little choice but to invest in improved public transport, particularly rail, and make it reliable, safe, fast and inexpensive. 7. Briefly describe your personal commitment to get trains on our tracks. I am 100% behind public transport. Rail must be integrated with other networks: bus, bicycle and pedestrian. 8. What actions would you take if elected to get trains on our tracks? 9. Would you be prepared to work across party lines and negotiate with State governments and others to get trains on our tracks and a link between Murwillumbah and Coolangatta Airport. Briefly describe what actions you would take. 10. Any other comments you wish to make. I do not consider it likely that I would be elected. However, I have raised this issue with the Senate candidates and, if elected, the Greens in the Senate would work across party lines and with their MLC colleagues in NSW to get trains back on our tracks, and improve the rail network. |
