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Govt backs off flawed rail trail bill - big community win
Wednesday 11 November 2009
Commenting on the governments decision to withdraw its Transport Administration Amendment (Rail Trails) Bill, Greens MP and transport spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said today it was an important win for communities across NSW, which had seen the bill as a real threat to precious rail infrastructure.
"The government's so-called Rail Trail Bill was an irresponsible piece of legislation. If passed it could have resulted in the loss of valuable rail corridors and infrastructure by alienating it for profit making purposes other than rail trails," Ms Rhiannon said.
"The Greens are long term advocates for improved walking and cycling infrastructure. We have repeatedly told the government we are ready to support genuine rail trail plans, but this bill was a wolf in sheeps clothing.
"The bill could not be supported because the community could see the government's hidden agenda to not create rail trails but profit from the alternative management of the railway land and infrastructure.
"The bill that has been withdrawn only used the term rail trail in its title. It did not clearly rule out the short or long term lease of a rail corridor for profit for purposes other than a rail trail.
"In earlier legislation the government was attempting to wind up the important Act passed over 100 years ago that sets out that rail lines can only be removed by an act of parliament, to allow the sale of rail land to developers.
"The government had to back off on that plan because of massive public opposition culminating in a huge rally outside parliament house last month supported by the rail unions, farmers and transport organisations and community groups.
"For the past week the government has been lobbying hard to get the Rail Trail Bill through by adopting some modifications. But the resulting bill was fundamentally flawed. One key problem was that it could enable rail lines to be declared disused, which were still enjoying current yet periodic use, or may be valuable in the future.
"The government needs to face up to the reality that because of its appalling record on walking and cycleway infrastructure, no one trusts them when it comes to public transport plans.
"So when the Transport Minister makes out that he is truly concerned about cycleways and transport corridors people are quite rightly suspicious," Ms Rhiannon said.
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Read here an analysis of flaws in the amended bill
