Margo Davis’s plea to the Prime Minister hits the spot, as unfortunately councils need to apply for grants for just about everything. This is time-consuming and doesn’t allow for long-term planning. Councils seem to have a hard road to hoe. However, maybe it is one way of making sure the council doesn’t spend ratepayers’ money willy-nilly.
Both Armidale and Glen could listen more to their constituents, particularly when it comes to contentious issues such as a rail trail. Touted as a tourist attraction, I find it difficult to suggest more than 1% of the population would be in favour, and of those, very few would understand the huge cost to the councils – not only in removing rail lines and creating the track (bitumen, etc.) but also in keeping the track free of noxious weeds and rubbish.
And for what? Do councils think that tourists will come flocking to stay a night or two in these areas? For free? Governments of all stripes worship the “tourism dollar,” but does it make sense? There are some brilliant bike trails in our area. We need more like a sick headache.
What those towns north of us need is a proper rail service. With the ’32 Games looming, now is the time to get that border crossing fixed – for the future of this country, not just the future of those north of us, or indeed south of us, as rail freight is king.
The crown has slipped in recent years. It’s time to put it back on his head – aka the agenda.
Got something on your mind? Go on then, engage. Submit your opinion piece, letter to the editor, or Quick Word now.
No one in their right minds would spend a million dollars per mile for a bike path, that’s insane. It has little benefit to locals, who would prefer safer pedestrian routes and footpaths and cycleways to get to school and the shops from their homes to the cbds safely. There’s no public transport out of town, no public transport to bring in seniors or disability or any other tourists who don’t drive a car. This bike path nonesense needs to be put to bed and buried, so many other things before we waste tax payer dollars and up everyone’s rates to pay for this ridiculous fantasy of goat trail without rails.
Tanya Langdon Why won’t Mayor Sam Coupland answer my question why near to half-a-million dollars has been allocated to preliminary works in the 2025-26 ARC budget, when the grants have been lost for what is easily the most divisive local issue?
The article has no proof of assertions made and fails to mention the very poor business case for reinstating rail given the enormous costs. People would come from the other side of the planet to ride the rail trail if properly promoted
Alan Russell because it’s everyone’s dream to travel the world to cycle beside a busy highway, yea I’m sure they’ve got better plans on their bucket list to tick off.
Tanya Langdon sure you know what you are talking about
No one in there right minds would spend millions on a rail line for a hand full of passengers, if it’s such a good idea why isn’t this line open now, your car killed passenger trains, inland Rail killed the remote chance of anything happening as far as freight goes, Inland Rail is a good example of the cost of rail and it’s obscene
Phillip Davidge why dont you think we need to be seen as important enough to have a train service like the city people have we think we are. It’s the country people who keep this country alive.not much grown in the city . It’s full of office workers . The business people who sell to the country see costs a whole lot different to what will be very much the costs in road for transport increases. Ageing people need to be better looked after .with public transport. Medical treatment is needed as well ,and that’s not been addressed .so we keep on saying get this up to speed .
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Phillip Davidge You make some very good points. What you’re omitting, however, is the tourism benefits (not to mention freight) of rail – https://www.vintagerailjourneys.com.au/experiences/north-coast-rail-tour-of-the-nsw-coastline/ As any sportsperson will tell you, play the ball where it’s going to be and not where it is. The exorbitant extra 20% Armidale take on fuel will make car travel out of reach for many locals in the future – if it isn’t now. Moreover, tourists aren’t going to waste money on fuel getting here just to ride their bike a couple of kilometres when there’s bigger bang for buck – attractions – to be had along the coast. Sam should be taking on the local fuel distributors, just as a former Labor government did in Queensland. If he did, he might just get the attention wanting pollies crave. Last week I purchased diesel for $1.60/ltr on the Gold Coast.
Unfortunately the sources used for articles of this nature have little knowledge of the facts nor do they understand the realities of circumstances they comment on. But the New England New England Times regularly participates in the debate without solid information or unbiased reporting.
People have come to expect this publication to fall short on many of recognised journalistic standards.
They end up as a council asset, which end up throwing the books into deficit