Minutes of the LRTC Meeting 14th May 2016 at Wollongong
LACHLAN REGIONAL TRANSPORT COMMITTEE
Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held at Wollongong City Council on the 14th May 2016
Welcome by Gordon Bradbery Lord Mayor of Wollongong Council
ATTANDANCE: As per attendance sheet Total of Fourteen
APOLOGIES: W. Erwin, M. Stacy, J. Horton, I. Gray, N. McMillon, S. Freudenstein, B. Ryan, A. Durkin, J. Debritt. R. Park MP, B. Shorten Opposition Leader. Member for Gilmore, S. Jones. G. Ward.
MOVED: M. McGrath, SECONDED: B. West CARRIED.
INTRODUCTION of PRESENT MEMBERS
Chairperson Judith informed the meeting that due to Council Amalgamations that the LRTC have lost some Member Councils.
MINITES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Held at Cowra on the 6th February 2016 MOVED: K. McGrath, SECONDED: B. West. CARRIED.
BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES:
A number of Mayors requested a meeting with the Premier but was unsuccessful, but a meeting held the 9th May 2016 with C. Gardener and C. O’Brien on Freight Strategy and Planning. Maldon Dombarton line is Shovel ready but no plans to start yet. Blayney Demondrille line had statics on costings to get it up to running standard and maintaining the line. They also spoke of completing the line from Demondrille to Young. Young Council have already put an application in on behalf of Young and the region for a grant from Fixing Country Rail finance to complete the upgrade to Young but they are looking at the whole line but as the Young Shire have been amalgamated we will just have to wait and see if Hill Top Shire continue to lobby for this line. B. West also meet with C. O’Brien to discuss Fixing Country Rail. They also meet with D. Gay concerning Blayney – Demondrille and freight corridors with 15 million first time but all up 400 million allocated.
Judith introduced Shannon Bird Member for Cunningham
Shannon spoke on a number of things. She is fully committed to Maldon – Dombarton line construction and reported on how difficult it is to lobby the Government when Government and Ministers change as she has been working on this line for about 10 years but is not in favour of having the line for Passengers and freight.
Congestion on the Illawarra line
She would appreciate a meeting with the Federal Minister with the three major party ministers from State and Federal.
She also stated that she appreciated the support of the LRTC and the work the Committee was doing.
Max Duffy commented on trains down time to enter Sydney and the comparison between road and rail freight costs.
M. Simpson asked about inter modal at McCarther and Shannon replied that a number of events and infrastructure has to happen to pull the whole project in together.
Adem Long Ports NSW spoke on the congestion at Port Botany Phillip Lead commented on the congestion in Sydney and the construction of the inland rail.
Ken McGrath spoke on the damage to roads as a result of Grain Corp closing silos and forcing road truck to travel longer distances. Judith asked how we get some sort of promise on the table or agenda.
Shannon replied saying that if this group and personally lobbied all politicians from all parties would help and we may have a meeting with A. Albanese after the election. Judith adjourned the meeting for the purpose of media photos and a coffee.
SECRETARY’S REPORT AND CORRESPONDANCE:
The Correspondence was circulated to the meeting for perusal by members.
TREAUSERS REPORT:
Treasure D. Hughes presented the report from the previous meeting detailed the receipts and expenditure and was tabled for the information of the members.
Opening Balance as at 1/2/16 $7431.70
Income $71.85
Expenses $110.00
Closing Balance as at 30/4/16 $7503.55
Cheque from Lachlan Valley Rail of $300 for membership
MOVED: D. Hughes SECONDED: J. Falks CARRIED
REPORTS:
Wollongong – G. Bradbery Mayor. No information from C. O’Brian regarding Maldon-Dombarton line. The Maldon – Dombarton would service the south western part of Sydney which would become the Hinterland of the south and said that if the private sector do not get involved in this it will not go any were and he is not happy with the amount of money been spent on studies. He stated that the deep port at Eden is been developed and may have cruise liners docking there and there is some interest in Port Kembla also. The down turn of Blue Scope has affected the area and the NSW Government has indicated some planning for development in that area. But the Committee must focus on the Inland Rail or were the facts and figures all lie, and assemble our case and prioritise.
PARKES- K. McGrath Reported that the Federal budget of $594 million to purchase land north of Parkes for rail corridors plus $300 million for Studies etc. . Parkes Mayor Ken Keith is the Chair of MBIRA (Melbourne Brisbane Inland Rail Way) and one of those trains is equal to 110 B-Doubles. That group will be meeting in August and the cost of the lot will be $10.7 Billion and create 1600 jobs but takes time. P. Laird asked if Parkes would become an inland port with custom clearance. Reply was that there is three inter modal sites and have a DA activated and approved for an International Freight Airport.
COWRA – B. West. Bells line road express way corridor to be reserved in this calendar year. Canberra Air Port is one to keep an eye on for freight to Asia in 16-18 hours. Lachlan Valley Way may become freight corridor from Parkes to Canberra.
WOLLONDILLY – J. Hannon. New Air Port not much info available as yet
LACHLAN VALLEY RAIL - J. Falks. Lobbied State and Federal Members to attend the LRTC meeting at Wollongong.
PORTS NSW - D. Figliomeni. Announced that he had retired from his employment and Introduced Adem Long Manager of Logistics NSW Ports and will be the ongoing representive for NSW Ports and has been involved in rail, roads and shipping for many years.
A. Long. 70 applications in for Fixing Country Rail
There were 4 forums around the state run by Transport NSW and were received quite well.
Quattro are now up and running but not much increase yet in tonnage of grain. In regard to Sydney Enfield opened up in the first week of May. Parkes is tired in with the 30 year plan at this stage and also spoke on the planning for new corridors in conjunction with Eastern Creek and others. The new CEO for NSW Ports is Mereka Calpus who came from Sydney Ports has been full time for the last 4 months. Adem will report to the next meeting.
P. Laird – Informed the meeting that the Government released land for development but no corridors for rail.
The Casino to Lismore rail line and speeding up Sydney to Newcastle and Sydney to Wollongong lines.
He also commented on the amount of money spent in and around Sydney when the small amount required to improving a few regional NSW lines e.g. track straightening.
GENERAL BUSINESS - MOVED: J. Hannan SECONDED: B. West. That Dom Figliomeni be presented with Life Membership of the LRTC CARRIED. Then Judith presented Dom with large bottle of wine. Dom responded very surprised and thanked the committee and the friends that he has made whilst been involved with this committee.
MOVED: P. Laird That a letter be sent to Planning Infrastructure for the Sydney – Newcastle, Sydney – Wollongong and the Sydney – Yass line planning to be bought forward to the short term rather than long term SECONDED:
M. Duffy NOTICE OF MOTION HELD UP UNTIL NEXT MEETING.
ANMENDMENT: Investigate the Planning Infrastructure and Corridor protection for NSW rail.
Write to and lobby the new amalgamated councils to encourage them to become membership of LRTC. B. West to speak to Hill Top Council and with other amalgamated councils. LRTC write to all candidates for the Federal election for their support and stating that LRTC will not give up on working to improve the Rail, Road and Air services and infrastructure in NSW. MOVED:
B. West SECONDED: M. Simpson CARRIED
J. Fulks Asked what Councils have been amalgamated. B. West advised what councils have been amalgamated.
MOVED: M. Simpson SECONDED: K. McGrath That we write to Shannon Bird and Wollongong thanking them for her time and hosting our meeting.
CARRIED:
Discussion on another meeting before the election then the AGM sometime after.
J. Falks Advise that Boorowa held an unveiling of a notice board on the 12th April 2016 for rail from 1950 to 1987 by Tim Fisher.
NEXT MEETING: Boorowa
MEETING CLOSED: 12-30pm
CHAIRPERSON SECRETARY
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