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Mr THOMAS GEORGE (Lismore) [5.40 p.m.]: On behalf of the people of my electorate, I draw to the attention of the House the efforts being made by the community to prevent the cessation of rail services on the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line. The loss of rail services in the northern part of New South Wales will be short-sighted and will lead to significant ongoing community-based protests, such as those that have occurred over the past few weeks. Instead of short-term cost cutting, the Government should pursue a long-term strategic approach to link the Casino to Murwillumbah branch line with the Gold Coast rail service. The Lismore economic development unit, which is headed by Andrew Lovett, made a submission to the Parry enquiry into public transport outlining the unit's vision for economic development.
The submission illustrated how 4,850 trips per day could ensue from connection of the New South Wales rail system to the Queensland rail system. The submission suggested that 950 trips per day would result from tourism patronage, 2,700 from commuting workers, and 1,200 from rail trips by Northern Rivers residents to Queensland. The unit called for an extension of the line between Murwillumbah and Robina to offer a commuter service which would guarantee the long-term viability of the line. It was with pleasure that I welcomed to my electorate the shadow Minister for Transport Services, Michael Gallacher, and the honourable member for Ballina, Don Page, who presented the Opposition's proposals for rail services when we win government after the next election.
My dream has always been that the rail line would be extended because linking the region to areas in south-eastern Queensland would be the biggest boon imaginable in economic and social terms for the northern region. The shadow Minister assured the people of my electorate that the Opposition did not propose to close down the rail service but, rather, would consider extending rail services in country areas. The local rail line must remain viable and an extension of the line would certainly go a long way toward ensuring its viability. Over the past week, the mayor of Casino, Charlie Cox, and the mayor of Lismore, Merv King, and a host of others, including members of Northern Rivers Trains for the Future [NRTF], collected signatures on petitions calling for retention of the rail service.
Last Friday afternoon, as part of the campaign to retain the area's only train service, more than 3,000 petition signatures were presented to me on Lismore's railway station platform, and tomorrow I will present those petitions to Parliament. A member of the NRTF committee, Basil Cameron, presented me with the petitions, and the co-ordinator of the campaign, Robyn Churchill, said that people had flocked to sign them in a significant demonstration of the community's support for retention of the rail service between Casino and Murwillumbah. Basil Cameron also said that in some areas the community's response was overwhelming, with the group running out of petition forms in Bangalow, Lismore and other areas where petitions were being collected. So far, more than 7,500 signatures have been presented to me, and petitions bearing those signatures will be presented to Parliament. Last week I presented some petitions directly to the Minister for Transport Services, Michael Costa. I take this opportunity to place on the record an extract from a letter by Robert Garbutt which was addressed to the Premier:
I am writing to you to express my concern at the threatened replacement of the Murwillumbah XPT with buses.
The rail service is a piece of the social fabric of this region.
Many people are not able to travel comfortably on buses because of mobility reasons.
The train also provides a means of travel for an unbroken journey to Sydney and back for families and students, as well as school and sporting groups.
At a time when Pacific Highway deaths are an issue, the train also provides a safe public transport option — the only true public transport option in this growing region.
The logic put forward for the closure of our train service is economic — a failure to provide adequate returns on expenditure.
For equity reasons alone I don't believe this is sufficient reason for your government to close the train service.
The extract I have read into Hansard is sufficient to convey Robert's thoughts on the matter. In the strongest possible terms, I reiterate to the House that the communities of the northern part of this State want the Casino to Murwillumbah rail service to continue in operation.