Saffin backs rail 'link'

ON TRACK: Janelle Saffin, pictured near the train line in North Lismore. She is promoting a petition to keep our transport options alive.

Jacklyn Wagner

FEDERAL support has been thrown behind the Northern Rivers' campaign to guarantee the closed Casino-to-Murwillumbah rail line is kept in public ownership.

Page MP Janelle Saffin is petitioning the NSW Government to take no further action while the Integrated Regional Transport Plan for the Northern Rivers and South-East Queensland is being completed.

Ms Saffin said she had reached an historic agreement with public and private sector groups to get a regional and cross-border transport plan in place, and it would be a tragedy if actions by anyone restricted the options available for consideration in the plan.

“It is important the NSW State Government does nothing that could make our job harder as we move towards a transport system that will serve our social, environmental and economic needs for the next 50 years,” Ms Saffin said.

Trains on our Tracks welcomed Ms Saffin's support in saving the Casino-Murwillumbah line from potential sale.

However president Karin Kolbe said she rejected moves to sell off any NSW rail land.

“We reject dividing the NSW Rail community and the travelling public into 'worthy' and 'unworthy' lines. The legislation applies to all rail corridors, including those that are still operational. It is bad legislation that allows any rail line to be ripped up. It should be opposed outright,” Ms Kolbe said.

Ms Saffin is asking local residents to sign her petition, which urges New South Wales Transport Minister David Campbell to quarantine the Casino-to-Murwillumbah rail line from the State Government's planned Transport Administration Amendment Bill 2009.

The petition can be signed at Ms Saffin's electorate office in Molesworth Street, Lismore, during business hours or when her mobile office visits the Lismore Car Boot Market tomorrow.

Emailed letters of protest can be sent to david@campbell. minister.nsw.gov.au