Transport Administration Amendment (Closure of Railway Line Between Rosewood and Tumbarumba) Bill 2017

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-97531

Hansard session: Fifty-Sixth Parliament, First Session (56-1)

Transport Administration Amendment (Closure of Railway Line Between Rosewood and Tumbarumba) Bill 2017

Second Reading

Debate resumed from an earlier hour.

Mr JAMES GRIFFIN (Manly) (16:18:32):

Rail trails have proved to be a success in other States and internationally, and it is time for New South Wales to get on board. I commend the member for Albury on this initiative. There are more than 3,000 kilometres of non-operational rail lines across the State comprising 27,000 hectares of land. While not all of those lines are suitable for repurposing, the 21-kilometre line between Rosewood and Tumbarumba provides a prime example of how unused transport infrastructure can be reactivated for a new purpose that helps support the local economy and helps unlock the potential of the Snowy region. In 2015 the Government called for expressions of interest for new rail trail proposals and, following an independent assessment process, the proposed rail trail between Rosewood and Tumbarumba was selected as a pilot project that would set the example for potential future proposals—and what a fantastic proposal it is.

The proposal put forward by the then Tumbarumba Shire Council demonstrated an effective plan for community consultation and a viable operating model. This showed the clear potential that the project provides for tourism, including ecotourism and broader economic benefits. The Government has committed $4.9 million from the Restart NSW Fund to support the establishment of the rail trail. The now Snowy Valleys Council has continued to take the project forward to a point where formal confirmation of an ability to commence work on the rail line is required. This bill provides that confirmation, and should be supported. In developing the project the council has been supported by a committee of relevant New South Wales Government agencies, including the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Infrastructure NSW, the NSW Department of Industry, Transport for NSW, the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Destination NSW.

All the agencies involved recognise the significant benefits that the rail trail can deliver to the local community—an important role the project will play as a pilot leading the way for other projects in the State. A number of other New South Wales rail trail proposals were submitted in the recent $100 million Regional Growth—Environment and Tourism Fund expressions of interest process. Importantly, consultation with the local community has been a key part of the process. The majority of the community sees the benefits that the project will provide through increased tourist visitations in the region, along with the health and wellbeing benefits that local residents will enjoy from having this great new facility on their doorstep.

I understand that a small number of landowners have raised concerns about the risks involved in reactivating the rail corridor that runs adjacent to their land. The rail corridor has been inactive since 1974 and it is understandable that reactivation of the land has been met with some level of trepidation. It was pleasing to hear earlier today of the experiences of the member for Ballina with farmers who are now reaping the economic and tourism benefits of nearby rail trails. However, it cannot be forgotten that the rail corridor is public land and the Government therefore has an obligation to ensure that the citizens of New South Wales gain most public benefit from it. I am confident that the proposed rail trail meets that objective.

Most importantly, the corridor will remain in public ownership. Instead of being a dormant former piece of transport infrastructure reserved only for rail purposes, the bill will allow for the land to be used for a fantastic new use under the active care and control of the council. It is worth repeating that point because members opposite said today that they simply did not believe it would remain in public ownership. It is important that the corridor remains in public ownership. That is not to say the issues raised by adjacent landowners are being ignored. A comprehensive risk assessment has been undertaken by Murray Local Land Services, with some of the key risks being biosecurity issues, ensuring containment and protection of livestock within paddocks, and making sure that rail trail fences do not restrict livestock access to water. A range of activities has been identified to address the risks, and I am advised that Snowy Valleys Council has been engaging with adjacent landowners to seek their feedback on the risk assessment process and proposed mitigation strategies.

There is no doubt that a lot of detail will need to be worked through to take account of the individual circumstances of different landowners, but these issues should not be unsurmountable. If other States such as Victoria can manage to establish rail trails successfully, then so can we. In the grand scheme of things the Rosewood to Tumbarumba Rail Trail is a relatively small project. But it has the potential to be a transformative project for not only Tumbarumba but also all of regional New South Wales by demonstrating how unused infrastructure can be reactivated and repurposed into something that benefits regional economies and regional communities.

In March this year the Deputy Premier announced the Government's new $300 million Regional Growth—Environment and Tourism Fund. The expressions of interest process for the first $100 million to be allocated from the fund closed last month, and I have been advised by the Department of Premier and Cabinet that there were several strong rail trail proposals submitted that are currently being assessed as part of the shortlisting process before potentially moving to the detailed application stage.

The tourism sector, regional councils and large sectors of the community in regional New South Wales will be watching the progress of this bill very closely and wishing Snowy Valleys Council the best of luck in establishing this pilot program. I join them in that regard. I thank the member for Albury for his hard work and commend the bill to the House.

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (16:25:16):

This is great news for residents living in that part of New South Wales. The Transport Administration Amendment (Closure of Railway Line Between Rosewood and Tumbarumba) Bill 2017 is vital in many respects. The purpose of the bill is to authorise the closure of all or sections of the non-operational railway line between Tumbarumba and Rosewood in accordance with section 99A of the Transport Administration Act 1988 (NSW) to enable the development of this rail trail. Other States, such as South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria, have operational rail trails, with the Victorian rail trail program comprising more than 25 active trails. There are also rail trails overseas. We have seen large parcels of unused rail corridor transformed so that communities can benefit from much-needed open space.

The bill before us is the product of the hard work of the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Rail trails are recognised as being an alternative, adaptive use of redundant and non-operational rail corridors. Enabling the development of these rail trails in rural and regional New South Wales will allow more people to enjoy the great natural beauty of our regions and strengthen communities by building on their potential as attractive tourist destinations. Not just this rail trail but many others in the future will provide a huge boost to the regional and rural tourism market in New South Wales. That is a great win for those communities. It is also a great win for all the players in the tourism market, directly and indirectly, and for transport operators, regional aeroplane operators and small businesses. It is a great win for mums and dads as well.

I encourage people to visit rural and regional New South Wales, not just Tumbarumba and Rosewood. Our regions have a lot to offer. I acknowledge the member for Myall Lakes and the great work of the Deputy Speaker, the member for Lismore. In January 2015 the New South Wales Government invited expressions of interest as part of the $110 million Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund for pilot rail trails on the Tumbarumba to Rosewood and Casino to Murwillumbah rail corridors. Following a competitive process overseen by Infrastructure NSW, in June 2015 the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail project was announced as the first pilot rail trail under this initiative, with the provision of a grant of $4.8 million from Restart NSW. That is a great win for rural and regional New South Wales. I am advised that a steering committee, chaired by the Snowy Valleys Council, led to preparations for the development of the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail. Transport for NSW, the Department of Premier and Cabinet's new Regional NSW Group, the Department of Industry—Lands, Infrastructure NSW, the Department of Primary Industries and Destination NSW are all represented on the steering committee.

The planning stage of the Tumbarumba to Rosewood project is now well advanced, with construction estimated to take approximately 18 months—which is a great win for local communities. The proposal has significant community support due to the economic and business development that I referred to previously in my contribution. It is a great win for small businesses in the area and for those in the tourism industry, both directly and indirectly, as well as delivering potential social benefits. The area is developing as a popular tourist destination—I refer again to the importance of tourism to rural and regional New South Wales—with a growing reputation as a premium cool climate food and winegrowing region.

The rail corridor will remain the property of the New South Wales Government. The vesting arrangements will ensure that the corridor can be transferred back to Transport for NSW at no cost in the unlikely event that it is required for future freight or passenger rail services. I understand that those opposite will seek to amend this bill. The Tumbarumba to Rosewood rail trail is being progressed as a pilot initiative, with lessons learned to be used to inform potential future rail trail proposals in other areas of New South Wales, including the many rail trail submissions that have recently been received as part of the Regional Growth—Environment and Tourism Fund. Approximately 3,100 kilometres of non-operational railway line services exist across New South Wales. This is a crucial pilot project for New South Wales and as such it will pave the way for potentially more rail trails where needed across the State.

The Rosewood to Tumbarumba Rail Trail will deliver much-needed tourism and regional investment in the area. Such development cannot occur and the railway line cannot be legally closed until this bill passes both Houses of Parliament. This is a great win for local regional and rural New South Wales. It will complement existing tourism attractions. With this region developing a strong reputation of premium wine and food experiences, the trail will encourage increased visitations to local wineries and quality food establishments, promoting much-needed economic development. I commend the bill to the House.

Mr STEPHEN BROMHEAD (Myall Lakes) (16:33:36):

I support the Transport Administration Amendment (Closure of Railway Line Between Rosewood and Tumbarumba) Bill 2017, and I commend the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure for introducing it. I also commend the member for Albury for working so hard to engage with and advocate for his local community to see this project come to fruition. He is an outstanding local member and the people of the Albury electorate should be very proud of the advocacy that he brings to this place on their behalf. The rail trail will be fantastic and a phenomenal benefit to tourism. The former member for Ballina, the Hon. Don Page, advocated strongly for rail trails because he could see the benefits for tourism in the region from developing the rail line from Casino to Murwillumbah.

Tourism brings into an area people who spend money at local businesses, which creates jobs. The rail trail between McEachern Lane, Rosewood, to Tumbarumba will benefit small businesses and the local economy and create more jobs. The more we develop tourism in regional New South Wales, the better it is for local communities. I would love to have a disused railway line in my area.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER:

I'll sell you one.

Mr STEPHEN BROMHEAD:

You'll sell me one. I have a spur line that goes to two old, disused dairy factories but it runs straight; it is not circular, which is needed for a rail trail. That does not mean our minds are closed to the idea of a rail trail. The Myall Lakes community could explore the idea further. If the owner of the two dairy factories turned them into a tourist attraction incorporating the rail line it would be fantastic. In 2013 Taree celebrated the centenary of rail in the area, which has a tremendous rail history. It would be a great benefit to my area if we had heritage trains using that spur line. The last of the old, closed dairy factories is on the mighty Manning River, where development approval has been granted for marina facilities with jetties et cetera and a rail trail would be a boon to the area. I commend the member for Albury for bringing this project to fruition.

I listened with interest earlier to the lies of Opposition members, who are running another scare campaign. It is typical Labor. This is a good-news story but members of the Opposition are trying to put a negative spin on it. They get out the old, tattered and dog-eared Graham Richardson Labor Party rule book that says to conduct a scare campaign and muddy the waters. They sling mud because they have nothing else to offer. This is not a case of selling off the railway line by stealth; ownership will be retained by the New South Wales Government. If the line is needed in the future for freight or passenger services, it will be transferred at no cost to Transport for NSW. In the meantime, the rail trail will create jobs and boost the regional economy. It is a shame that when Labor was in government for 16 years it turned its back on regional New South Wales, and the regional economy decreased and unemployment increased.

We are doing many things to improve regional New South Wales. We have a provided a record amount of infrastructure, including highways and roads and new hospitals and schools. All those things are happening in regional New South Wales and they are creating more jobs. The Government is doing its bit by employing more nurses, teachers and police officers in regional New South Wales. At the same time it is doing what it can to boost the economy and tourism because tourism means jobs and opportunities. The most poorly educated through to the most sophisticated and highly educated people can find employment opportunities in tourism. Anyone can get involved serving tables, making coffees or opening and running businesses. There are phenomenal opportunities and this rail trail is another project that will help. Following the pilot, it is hoped this scheme will be extended to the North Coast. We can then look at other lines including the Spurline and the disused rail line in Taree in the Myall Lakes electorate. I commend the bill to the House.

Debate adjourned.