In April the Mayor, Chris Manchester met with other mayors and general managers from the Cowra, Blayney, Weddin, and Young Shire Councils to discuss the proposed closure of the Demondrille to Cowra and the Koorawatha to Greenethorpe railway branch lines. Discussions also centred around the fact that the closure of the lines will result in an increase in traffic on local roads, in the Harden shire that is namely the Wombat to Harden regional road. Being a regional road, it is funded by the State Government but the Harden Shire is responsible for its upkeep. Another area for concern is who will be responsible for maintenance on the four wooden rail bridges and rail crossings along the line in the Harden Shire.
The meeting of councils resolved to go back to their respective councils with a proposal to set up a fund to commission an independent study on what freight is generated in the region besides grain that could be put on rail rather than travel by road. Harden Shire councillors all agreed to the study and follow the other councils in providing $10,000 for the study to take place.
Representatives from the councils gathered last Wednesday for a meeting organised by Mick Veitch MLA with the Minister for Transport, David Campbell and the Minister for Roads, Michael Daley to discuss keeping the line open, unfortunately Harden Shire Mayor, Chris Manchester was unable to make the meeting as he was attending the shires conference at the time.
Upon the council member’s arrival, the Minister for Transport issued a media release from Graincorp stating they would be taking over the operation of the line. The Minister for Roads, Michael Daley remained relatively quiet during the talks with David Campbell doing the majority of the talking.
Although the rail line has an operator for the moment, no assurances were given that the line would remain open indefinitely. It was however, made clear to those in attendance that the issue of longevity rests with the Rail Infrastructure Corporation and its budget.
It was thought that the ministers are waiting on the outcome of the Federal Grain Freight Review that is currently being conducted by the Federal Government, and in the meantime the councils will now get their own report together to prove to the State Government the value of keeping the line open.
A preliminary report compiled by Max Michelle from consultant company SAMRON in Potts Point, commissioned by the combined councils was presented to the ministers at the meeting last Wednesday. The full report called the ‘Rail Line Revival Project’ will be finished in the next three months and could prove to be a valuable weapon in the fight to ensure the line stays open.
The location of the meeting, opposite Graincorp’s grain handling operation at Maimaru, highlighted the absurdity of the proposed line closure as a long line of trucks were waiting to be loaded with grain just a short distance away from the rail lines, essentially doing the job of the grain trains.
Mayor Chris Manchester said he will be meeting with representatives from GrainCorp this Thursday to discuss the possibility of a second operator carrying general freight on the line. “We are hoping that Graincorp come on board to find solutions for general freight. Perhaps they might move general freight or at least allow a second operator on the lines if we can arrange general freight for the line”, Mayor Manchester said.
The Mayor also said that Graincorp taking over the lines might make the situation easier than dealing with the state government.
Lachlan Valley Railways usage of the lines for their Steam Trains and other tourist trains will also be highlighted in discussions.
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