The Nationals Member for Burrinjuck, Katrina Hodgkinson, has welcomed the call by the NSW Government for private sector Registrations of Interest (ROI) to restore, operate and maintain the disused rail line between Blayney and Demondrille which runs through the Burrinjuck electorate.
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“The use of this line was officially suspended by the previous State Labor Government in its 11 November 2008 Mini Budget and State Labor also stopped funding maintenance on the line,” Katrina said.
“State Labor’s suspension had significant negative effects on the ability to transport local grain harvests by rail and also on tourism, in particular the Lachlan Valley Railway based in Cowra.
“Since then I have strongly advocated on behalf of local councils, grain farmers and the Lachlan Valley Railway seeking ways to have the line reopened.”
Katrina said in February 2012 she arranged and hosted a meeting in Boorowa between Minister Gay and representatives of 10 local government areas during which the Ministerial Task Force report on the reopening of the Blayney-Demondrille Railway Line was presented.
“I have subsequently assisted with and arranged several further meetings in support of the local push to reopen this line,” Katrina said.
“As a result in July 2013, the NSW Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Blayney, Cowra, Harden, Weddin and Young Shire Councils to investigate the improvement of the regulatory operating model for this railway line.”
Transport for NSW is now calling for Registrations of Interest from suitably qualified parties to restore, maintain and operate the railway lines from Blayney to Demondrille as well as between Koorawatha to Greenethorpe on a commercially sustainable basis under a fixed term licence.
More information is available on the NSW eTendering website at www.tenders.nsw.gov.au with the ROI closing at 5 p.m. on 4 October 2013.
“I thank Roads and Ports Minister Duncan Gay, for his commitment to ensuring local rural and regional rail and road infrastructure is connected to the main transport network to help drive further economic growth in the region,” Katrina said.
“The reopening of this line will significantly benefit grain farmers and councils allowing the transport of the grain harvest by rail, reducing heavy vehicle traffic on local roads and also boosting tourism opportunities in this region.”
