I refer to the Siri Gamage article; Merits of Regional Rail Renewal vs a Rail Trail: Failures of Decision-Making in New England (14 November 2025).
I continue to be amazed by the antics of the elected Armidale Regional Council (ARC) Councillors spending up big on developing a ”bike path to nowhere to see nothing” at a future foreseeable on-going expense to long suffering ARC ratepayers. As a political sceptic one must ask, ”Who benefits from this proposed ratepayer expense?”
The only beneficiaries appear to be the interstate trucking industry isolating New England from the world to protect their government subsidised use of highways. Or, perhaps an aspiring ARC Councillor seeking to fulfil family expectations for a political career, and prepared to spend whatever is necessary to gain pre-selection from the New England Campaign Committee that benefits from ”political donations” from the trucking industry.
I am amazed by the fact that the Main North Line (MNL) between Armidale and Jennings Wallangarra was closed by the then Nationals MP who also allowed a highway upgrade to be placed immediately on top of the rail line at Sandy Creek. Voters obviously have short memories and little interest in benefiting from politics.
The best interests of New England voters are poorly represented at federal level, and no better by the newly elected NSW Nationals MP.
Why do both these alleged representatives of the voters completely ignore the petition of about 10,000 voters demanding the same government subsidised public transport access to the world as enjoyed in the Sydney Basin where billions are spent on railway upgrades and the Rozelle rolling carpark??
Got something on your mind? Go on then, engage. Submit your opinion piece, letter to the editor, or Quick Word now.