Residents all over the New England tablelands are making better public transport a big issue for this Federal election. They are angry and determined to force politicians at all 3 levels – local, NSW and Federal – to take a serious interest in the issue.
Residents demand action to reverse the major decline in transport for their region since the NSW Government ended passenger rail services north of Armidale way back in November 1988. They see re-activating the Great Northen Railway (GNR) line north of Armidale to Wallangarra QLD as critical to boosting the economy of New England.
Many local residents and common interest groups from Uralla, Armidale, Guyra, Glen Innes and Tenterfield are campaigning as an umbrella group called New England Network, to re-activate the GNR line, which is the main artery for so many aspects of life on the Tablelands.
The New England Transport Plan is a big, community based effort, which encompasses all forms of transport – coaches, buses, planes and rail for passengers, as well as bulk handing and container transport of freight by rail, instead of on the region’s main highways.
Their team activity in researching and writing New England Transport Plan has given rise to a campaign theme called The GNR Artery. It promotes re-activation of the GNR rail line as the foundation decision that will attract new businesses and jobs to the region, people wanting cheaper housing that cannot be found in the capital cities, and better access to education, health, social and recreation facilities.
Federal election candidates and local councillors in Armidale, Glen Innes and Tenterfield are amazed at the rapid emergence of active support for The GNR Artery. They can see a dramatic groundswell in these local demands to re-activate the GNR line north of Armidale.
Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to read the Executive Summary and Recommendations which are available to anyone online at yindi.org
These maps and diagrams help explain our Plan….
John Young
Director Strategy
New England Network
0407 940 943
yindi1951@gmail.com
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