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Letter: Critical Questions for the GM, ARC About His Rail Trail Plans
Recently Armidale Regional Council (ARC) General Manager James Roncon stated that he wants to “get the rail trail back on track.”
In light of this, there are a number of important questions that need to be asked of the General Manager:
Expenditure of Ratepayers’ Funds
How much ratepayers’ money has been spent to date on preliminary work for the rail trail?
Funding from Renewable Energy Companies
How much money has been received or promised by renewable energy companies specifically for the rail trail’s construction or maintenance?
Transparency and Authorisation
Were the negotiations between ARC and renewable energy companies conducted transparently and authorised by the full council?
Process for Contributions
What is the process for receiving contributions from such companies and allocating them to community projects within the LGA?
Allocation of Funds
Of the funds received from renewable energy companies, how much (if any) has been directed to projects other than the rail trail?
Governance and Principles
Why has ARC not finalised the Terms of Reference and guiding principles for allocating funds received from renewable energy companies, to ensure they serve the greater good of the community?
Grant Applications
Has the council applied for government grants to build the rail trail?
If so, how many applications have been submitted, for what dollar amounts, and what is the current status of each application?
Council Updates
When will the General Manager provide a full update to councillors on all of the above matters?
Why has no substantive update been provided since April–May 2024?
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Letter: Net Zero needs Barnaby to “re train” the region
Barnaby to led re training for Net Zero
The Net Zero article was indeed very interesting and very thought provoking.
My mind immediately thought of changing “Net Zero” into “Need Trains”. As an ex-farmer I to have learnt many lessons from raising livestock to growing crops. I rapidly learnt that to reap the benefits of all your hard work on a large scale you needed a truck to import farm supplies and to market your pigs, cattle and sheep as well as delivering grain to the silo. My little old small truck rapidly became bigger until I had a prime mover and trailer combination. I was clocking up many miles on the New England Highway both day and night. The truck was even keeping the bank manager happy as I was generating revenue carting other people’s products. I had a run carting rabbits from the chillers in the North West and New England to the casting works at Homebush Abattoirs with the obvious back load to my hometown.
Earlier this week I topped up a modern large high efficiency truck with diesel. I put $990 worth in the right tank and almost the same in the left tank to cover the next day’s work. Two grand a day to keep harassing the cars on the New England Highway makes me think we “Need Trains” and we need them now.
Barnaby, Sam and all the other political leaders need to do some serious modelling and get on board with the majority of those living, visiting and working in the New England and Northern Inland Region who are calling for the reestablishment of a quality passenger and freight rail line from Newcastle to South East Queensland via the cities of Maitland, Tamworth and Armidale.
Whilst rail trails do not have the economic benefits or viability of a sound rail network they are, in fact an extremely harmful distraction.
Importing diesel from overseas to pump it out the exhaust pipes on our highways is not the efficient way to achieve Zero Emission.
Electrify the rail corridor from Newcastle to Tamworth, build a new Ardglen Tunnel and connect the rail line from Armidale to Queensland is the railway to achieve Net Zero in double quick time. And don’t forget to put the batteries in our new regional passenger trains.
Barnaby, the voters of the New England will love you if you can “re train” the regions transport of passengers and freight and led the way to community prosperity with achievable and sustainable emission reduction goals.
Rick Banyard
Warratah West
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Letter: Promises & Secrets : Duval High School
Congratulations for this article which is a fine piece of investigative journalism exposing the skulduggery to which aspiring politicians on Armidale Regional Council will go to achieve higher political office.
There has been continuing dissatisfaction with ARC since the previous NSW Coalition misgovernment appointed the Administrator to force amalgamate Armidale Dumaresq Council with Guyra Shire Council, and the subsequent waste of $16m amalgamation funding on ”consultant mates” and self serving corruption while in office, that was condoned by the then OLG staff.
Obviously voting National is no longer a sensible option for New England residents because federally we have had 12 years of public works stagnation with the NSW Labor Government complicit in the destruction of the Armidale reputation as an ”education city”.
Perhaps it is time to return to having an Independent representative of the voters at both feral and state levels.
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Letter: Duval High School Sale
Dear Sir/Madam
I have attached references to two clauses of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act in relation to Community land adjacent to Duval High School campus to which ARC is planning to rezone to operational and sell. I am no expert on legislation but at first glance it appears to me that Council does not have the ability to dispose of the land for its redevelopment property potential as proposed given the specific criteria stated in the legislation, ie Size, Shape, Topography, Location and Access.
Unfortunately Council has never “developed” the land to its potential as recreational space for the locals who live in the estate developed and gifted the land in accordance with the development consent, by former mayor Claude Cainero some 30 or so years ago.
Further the NSW Department of Planning projections for the population growth of Armidale are less than 1% per annum therefore Councils assertion of urgent need for private market driven housing stock is somewhat of a furphy. Social and affordable and correctly located housing is what is needed and a great location for such would be the former Kellys Transport site in Taylor Street which has remained undeveloped and unsold for many years. The Duval area is significantly isolated for social and affordable housing for tenants who don’t own vehicles. These matters were highlighted by the ABC recently on sites near Melbourne in particular and would serve as a warning to ARC and Homes North in their considerations.
https://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/lga1993182/s32.html
https://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/lga1993182/s45.html
Regards
Steve Finch
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Letter: Barnaby Joyce’s Comments Undermine Parliamentary Standards
Dear Editor,
Barnaby Joyce’s crude, immature interjection during Question Time on September 4 was more than a poor choice of words — it was a stark reminder of the growing disregard for parliamentary decorum. His graphic remark, made while schoolchildren sat in the public gallery, was not only inappropriate but deeply embarrassing for the institution he represents.
Parliament is a place for serious debate, not off-colour one-liners. Mr Joyce’s repeated behaviour — from incoherent speeches to bizarre personal tangents — undermines public confidence in our democratic processes. It reflects poorly not only on him but on the broader standard of conduct we expect from our elected officials.
It is especially disappointing for the people of New England, who deserve a representative that brings integrity, focus, and dignity to Parliament — not someone who turns it into a sideshow. His conduct is an embarrassment to his electorate and diminishes the voice they send to Canberra.
Australians deserve leaders who elevate the debate, not drag it down.
Sincerely,
Denise McHugh
Hillvue
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Letter: Trains’ needs need raising in parliament
The recent sittings of NSW Parliament have included Estimates and Question Time sessions. These sessions give wonderful opportunities for our MPs and the political parties to ask questions and glean information from the government.
With the New England region strangling from the lack of rail passenger and rail freight transport, one would have thought the questions would have been fired quick and fast. But no—there was barely a murmur.
The Shooters and Farmers raised some very interesting questions about the electrification of the rail corridor from Kiama to Bomaderry. Why was the extension of electrification from Newcastle to Maitland, or even Scone, not raised? Why was the extension of the Hunter DMU trains to Scone or even Tamworth not raised?
Where is the funding for the Tamworth Viaduct upgrade, Woolbrook Bridge repairs, or the Ardglen Tunnel reconstruction and expansion—issues raised in the interest of safer, faster and bigger trains for the New England?
There were no questions or issues raised about the reinstatement of our interstate and intrastate coach services that were very active prior to Covid.
Without trucks, Australia stops. Without trains, our community grinds to a halt.
Without trains, the Olympic Games in 2032 will have little impact on our tourism.
There can be no doubt that efficient and environmentally sound trains on the rail corridors of the New England will be a major benefit to the health, wealth and prosperity of us all.
It’s time we got our hard-working MPs on the correct track!
It’s time we railroaded them to deliver rail trains!
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Letter: business training offers inmates a fresh start
In response to: Local inmates learn skills for a more positive future
As the Trainer of Business courses out at Glen Innes Correctional Centre, I was excited to see this article that helps transform people’s opinions of offenders and what happens behind bars. I have personally been touched and transformed after this last year, training over 100 inmates.
I was disappointed that the certificate III in Business wasn’t mentioned as this too is a valuable course the men have completed. These men have run their own businesses in the past, but most admitted they had no leadership or people management skills.
Recently, because of the overwhelming response and completion rates to my three Business courses over the past year, I was awarded the NSW Trainer of the Year title for the New England region. This was purely for my work at the Glen Innes Correctional Centre.
I get disappointed that Business courses aren’t deemed as valuable as trade courses. Over the years, I’ve taught 1000’s who have obtained their trade qualifications and started their own business- only to struggle because they don’t know how to run and manage the people or paperwork.
My students were genuinely interested and impressed. Consequently, I had double the enrollments this term. My time training lasts 20 weeks/ 8 hour a week, with these inmates, compared to the 3 day courses they do to get those tickets. I get to learn so much more about each inmates experience and future plans.
It’s been the pinnacle of my 20 year career as a trainer to work with inmates! They are keen, grateful, and treat this 65 year old lady with so much respect.
I’d love to share more on what a powerful, rewarding year it’s been in hopes to transform community business leaders to give these men a chance when they return to our communities, because many of them are transformed and ready to build a positive future for themselves.
Sincerely,
Patty Fulloon
2025 NSW Trainer of the Year
New England
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Letter: Thanks to our effective local member
I just wanted to say a quick thank you to our effective local member – New England Times. Certainly you’re achieving more than the blokes actually elected!
I’d genuinely forgotten what it was like to have a story appear in the paper about something not right, and the government actually do something about it in response. Of course, we shall have to wait and see if they really do repave the New England Highway, Oxley Highway, and Waterfall Way – but to see a whole government announcement that was clearly directed straight at the Northern Tablelands, with like one road from down south thrown in, was just something.
Bravo!
Letter: Radiology frustration shared
In response to: Radiology deserts in regional NSW are a policy failure costing millions
I feel your frustration! Is there a government policy for health care in the bush? It seems unlikely. Recently, I needed a radiologist-guided steroid injection into areas of bursitis (in both hips). When I made an appointment with iMed, I was told I would need to wait a month. So, after waiting a couple of months, I was told that Armidale no longer had a radiologist. (I’ve just rung to check; when I asked if they had a FIFO radiologist, the operator was about to transfer me to someone else for the answer! They have a FIFO one now…but thank goodness I hung on for those 15 minutes – I might have missed out on learning how many bones there are in a baby.)
So, I rang Tamworth. Yes, I could have a steroid injection in a couple of weeks’ time. When I said I needed two, one for each hip, I was told that this procedure needed to be done on different days. “Why?” Frankly, I didn’t get a proper answer, even though I’d asked if there were side-effects (which there weren’t). I discovered that they too have a FIFO radiologist. My take on this woeful state of affairs would mean a long drive down to Tamworth, undergo the procedure, return. Then repeat in a couple of days later!!!
An alternative: an early morning train trip, then one of at least two taxis to the radiology business and then…what did one do for a whole day before waiting for a return train trip??? That’s an alternative?
You may notice I said ‘radiology business’…as that is what our medical system now is. The radiologist in question is gaming the system: two appointments instead of one. Double trouble for the patient/government.
This applies to prescriptions as well. Under the old system, the receptionist would take the patient’s details; the doctor would write the script out after her/his last patient – there may have been ten or so? Now?
To get a repeat prescription, one has to book a Telehealth appointment…often having to wait for a couple of days; often the call is over two hours later than the appointed timeslot. If the patient is aged, then they are not charged, but the government is. Similar for repeat yearly check-up with a Specialist. Make an appointment with the GP; get a referral; see said Specialist.
Much is made of IPTAAS for remote patients. This is a business, not a service. Our great doctors, Bookalill, Niven, et. al. are horrified! They worked their butts off when they were practicing. A wonderful locum told me recently: “If they can’t smell or see a beach, then the young doctors don’t want to go there.” Says it all, really.
Letter: Confetti Lane brings colour and smiles to Armidale
A new community art project appeared in Armidale last weekend.
In the tucked away laneway at the back of Armidale’s East Mall a “Confetti Lane” appeared.
Colourful! Makes one smile! Many locals helped paint the coloured circles that have liven up a dowdy spot. Take a look!
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