THE TWEED SHIRE Volume 2 #12 Thursday, November 19, 2009 Advertising and news enquiries: Phone: (02) 6672 2280 Fax: (02) 6672 4933 editor@tweedecho.com.au adcopy@tweedecho.com.au www.tweedecho.com.au
Whats New! page 11
LOCAL & INDEPENDENT
People power kills ‘rail trails’ bill for improved walking and cycling infrastructure. We have repeatedly told the government we are ready to support genuine rail trail plans, but this bill was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.’ ‘The bill could not be supported because the community could see the government’s hidden agenda to not create rail trails but profit from the alternative management of the railway land and infrastructure. ‘In earlier legislation the government was attempting to wind up the important Act passed over 100 years ago that sets out that rail lines can only be removed by an act of parliament, to allow the sale of rail land to developers. ‘The government needs to face up to the reality that because of its appalling record on walking and cycleway infrastructure, no one trusts them when it comes to public transport plans,’ Ms Rhiannon said.
Luis Feliu
Community groups on the Tweed and throughout the state have welcomed the government’s backdown on the controversial ‘rail trails’ bill, declaring it a win for people power. The government last week withdrew its Transport Administration Amendment (Rail Trails) Bill, which could have seen the tracks from the closed-down Murwillumbah-Casino rail line ripped up and railway land sold off to developers. Opposition parties, local councils, unions, farmers, environmental and other groups had united in a show of defiance culminating in a huge rally outside parliament house last month. Trains On Our Tracks (TOOT) president Karin Kolbe said the government had realised its ‘folly’ of selling off railway lines which were needed in high-growth areas, rural areas ‘and are an important method Vigilance needed of reducing carbon emissions’. Tweed MP Geoff Provest said vigi‘TOOT reminds our federal Labor Woodford Festival of the representatives, particularly Justine lance was needed in case the governTweed,’ Kerry said. ‘It’s been a vision of mine Elliott, of the need to honour election ment attempted a ‘backdoor sale’. ‘We have had a big win with this promises to provide rail services,’ she since I came to this town. backflip, but when it comes to rail, La‘I just can’t wait for the said. bor has a record of breaking promises. next one. But we’ll take litThey axed the line in May 2004 just tle steps, and often. If you A real threat rush into these things they Greens MP and transport spokes- weeks after promising it a 12-month won’t work.’ person Lee Rhiannon said it was reprieve and they are now so cashan important win for communities strapped that another sale attempt Pictured above: Molika across NSW, which had seen the bill would surprise no one. ‘We now need to convince the GovThornbury, left, and Radha as a real threat to precious rail infraernment not only to re-open the line, Gleeson, from the Indian structure. dance group Natya Shakti, ‘The government’s so-called Rail but to start planning its extension to display the poise and Trail Bill was an irresponsible piece of Coolangatta to meet up with the two elegance of the traditional legislation. If passed it could have re- rail systems being built on the Gold dance during the Unity sulted in the loss of valuable rail corri- Coast. ‘The arguments for North Coast Festival. Photo Jeff Dawson dors and infrastructure by alienating it for profit-making purposes other rail are rock solid in terms of the local economy, the environment, road safe■ More photos, page 7 than rail trails,’ Ms Rhiannon said. ■ Editorial, page 8 ‘The Greens are long term advocates ty, tourism and education,’ he said.
Festival uncovers the unity behind the Tweed’s multicultural variety consultation, especially with something multicultural.’ Community services and government agencies were available on the day to give advice in an informal setting; African drumming was taught and Aboriginal games were played. Kerry said what she enjoyed most of all was watching the interaction between festival goers. ‘Seeing all the happy children in the Kid’s Corner was wonderful. Entertainment was free, we will always do that. We did an evaluation of the festival and asked punters
Kim Cousins
The Tweed’s inaugural Unity Festival, held last Saturday, was such a success that organisers are planning to hold several similar events next year. Coordinator Kerry Turner said the first Unity Festival was always going to be the hardest, but hundreds of people turned out for it, making it a ‘huge success’ and done on a budget of only $18,000. ‘It took a year of my life to plan,’ Kerry said. ‘If you want quality you’ve got to put work into it. You need to do a lot of community
what they wanted more of. They said “culture”’, she said. Due to the big turnout at the festival, Kerry is now looking to hold four to five quality events each year in the Tweed. ‘These events can create jobs for young people. We just need really good planning and economy of scale,’ she said. For 2010’s Unity Festival, Kerry is planning to hold the event for 12 hours, instead of seven. By the following year, she hopes to have it as a two-day event. ‘I want this event to become the Dreaming or
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