The rail line between Blayney and Harden should never have closed.
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That's the consensus of Cootamundra State election candidates Steph Cooke for the Nationals, Mark Douglass of Country Labor, Shooters and Fishers candidate Matthew Stadtmiller and Greens candidate Jeffery Passlow.
Cowra and Hilltops Councils have been part of a group of councils campaigning for the re-opening of the Blayney to Demondrille/Harden rail line for many years.
The Young Witness asked the candidates what they would do to support the councils in their endeavours to re-open the line.
Only candidate Jim Saleam said he could not support any planned re-opening.
The line was closed under Labor in 2009.
Country Labor candidate Mark Douglass pointed out that the local councils have undertaken due diligence on the project and have the support of both business and the community.
Mr Douglass said the economic and employment benefits of the Blayney to Demondrille line reopening are key factors for these local councils and local communities.
"It appears there has been varying and vacillating support from government over the last 5 years," he said.
"If the information is correct, I would have no hesitation in supporting the reopening of the Blayney to Demondrille line.
"As the local member my role would be to ensure appropriate investment comes from both state and federal government and that impediments, barrier and red tape are minimised," he added.
Green's candidate Jeffery Passlow is also a strong advocatee for the re-opening of the Blayney to DemondrillelHarden rail line.
"It is high time the needs of the community were prioritised first," Mr Passlow said.
In contrast candidate Jim Saleam has stated he can't support re-opening.
"I suspect a secret underlying agenda," Mr Saleam said, but added the line should never have been discontinued and a passenger service would be great.
"The same parties who shut the lines now wish to re-open them? I fear this new line is not for ‘we the people’, but certainly for gold, copper and csg mining interests," Mr Saleam said.
"There is, as ever, a nexus between money and power in Riverina.
"It is probably for the benefit of the ex Nationals bosses and clients, just as the unwanted inland train line of Warren Truss serves special interests and the subjugation of our economy to China.
"Those with the right connections know you can’t mine without a railway and since mining now haunts the Riverina, we should be careful what we wish for," he said.
Matt Stadtmiller who is standing for the Shooters and Fishers says the line needs to be more than an "antique working line".
"The rail group received $5 million dollars in August 2016 from Duncan Gay and nothing has been done with the money," he said.
"The line should never have shut in the first place, it highlights the lack of investment in rail in regional areas.
"Communities across regional NSW have given up and are now trying to re-purpose closed rail into ‘rail trails’."
Mr Stadtmiller said an up to date business case needs to be looked at for the line.
"Lachlan Valley Rail can run a tourist venture. The issue for the area, including the Cowra region is getting products over the blue mountains when passenger services have the priority," he said.
"The line is strategic in that it reduces congestion over the mountains. It is more efficient to use the Blayney to Demondrille line to get to Port Kembla.
"It needs to be a main line standard so that there aren’t axle weight limits and speed restrictions. Our rail line can’t be an antique working line."
He says sitting member Steph Cooke needs to "provide a pre-election promise regarding this line or those voting shouldn’t vote for her".
"The Lycopodium report needs to be released so that we can evaluate the cost and benefit of reinstating the line. I support the reopening of the line. We will work with the government of the day to ensure regional NSW is properly funded," he said.
Sitting member and Nationals candidate Steph Cooke says she firmly believes the line should be reopened.
"It should never have closed to start with," Ms Cooke said.
"Since becoming elected, I have been working closely with Cowra and Hilltops councils for its re-opening.
"This project will significantly transform the agricultural economy of this region, boost jobs and remove trucks from our roads, shifting tonnes of freight onto the rail network.
"Five million dollars was announced in August 2016 for the Maimuru to Demondrille section of the line. This is still on the table and remains part of the Fixing Country Rail allocation.
"The subsequent business case showed the return on investment was not there for this section alone. Only will a re-opening of the entire line capture the volumes and efficiencies required.
"I am on the record as saying that a detailed engineering economic and social study needs to be undertaken.
"I am fighting for the line to be a Class 1 so that maximum efficiencies can be extracted from the required investment to reopen the line."
Ms Cooke said she has kept in close contact with all the councils concerned throughout her time in office and they are aware she is fighting for the line to be reopened.
"I have been working with the Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro to find a solutions to fund this project and, due to the efficient management of the NSW economy, we are now looking at the $4.2billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund to potentially fund the re-opening of the line.
"Last year I was able to successfully secure $60 million for the Junee to Griffith freight line which will improve freight movement across the Riverina, and I will continue to fight for a similar outcome regarding the reactivation of the Blayney-Demondrille line," she said.
Up next in our series of articles with the Cootamundra candidates: The candidates reply to the question: What do you see as the major issues in health at the three centres, Cowra, Young and Grenfell, and what would you do to improve access to health services, facilities and professionals in each centre?
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