North East Residents and Farmers
MEETING
Wednesday 28th September
At
The Lebrina Hall 7:30pm
To discuss progress regarding the proposed changes to the Railways Act – Bill 39 of 16
ALL WELCOME
PETITION
To – The Honourable the President and Members of the Legislative Council of Tasmania
1. This Petition of the undersigned Residents and Farmers located in the North East of Tasmania draws to the attention of the House that they object to the lifting of the rails on the North East Line between Launceston and Scottsdale in Tasmania to either facilitate a cycle trail between Cold Water Creek and Scottsdale, or at all.
2. Your Petitioners respectfully point out to the House and urge the House to recognise a Scheme whereby
(a) The rail line between Launceston and Scottsdale is potentially a feeder infrastructure of an enormous value to the North East Coast.
(b) Once this infrastructure is removed the practicality of its re-establishment would be lost.
(c) Your Petitioners are concerned by the use of a cycle trail over the length of the railway line would promote it being used by persons of unlawful purpose who, because of the nature of the trail, may be difficult to control.
(d) The railway line readily lends itself to rail motor use.
(e) Your Petitioners urge the House to consider as an alternative a joint user project whereby cycle path elements could be built adjacent to the railway line in sections and serviced by the railway line such that cyclists and generally members of the public could enjoy parts of the line that runs through State forest, rather than farmland and built up areas.
(f) Such rail motors would collect cyclists from Inveresk and carry them through all land adjacent the railway line as far as Scottsdale, thus enhancing the cycle experience from Scottsdale and beyond.
(g) That should the current Bill (39 of 2016) be amended to allow the above, the grant money allocated to the Dorset Council by NSRF would be preserved as would the approximately $50 million that is the railway line itself.
3. Your Petitioners therefore pray that the House –
(a) Allows and adopts a Scheme as the above, and
(b) Permits enables or promotes amendment to any and all legislation necessary to facilitate such a Scheme.
Brian Khan
