Protect the South Maitland Rail corridor and urgent reintroduction of passenger rail services; Maitland to Bellbird.
Petitioner:
Mr Andrew Fenwick
| Member:
Barr, Clayton
| No. of Signatories:
2,749
| Date closed:
09/02/2024
To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly, We petitioners bring to the attention of the House the urgent need to protect the South Maitland Rail corridor and the urgent need for the reintroduction of passenger rail services; Maitland to Bellbird.
The introduction of regular environmentally friendly passenger services Maitland to Bellbird will allow safer, faster, economic and environmentally sustainable public transport between the Cessnock area and Maitland; linking residents to the new Maitland Hospital, Newcastle schools, colleges, university campuses, Scone and Dungog locally and direct connection to Brisbane, Northern Tablelands and Sydney.
This corridor will become the tourist destination, connecting the state to vineyards and surrounding attractions and events, a featured journey for heritage trains and the Steamfest event.
With over 3500 new homes expected west of Cessnock this service is needed, will significantly improve life for many electors and relieve growing road traffic pressures.
The undersigned petitioners ask the Legislative Assembly to call on the Government to acquire the Maitland to Austar Colliery rail corridor for future public transport use from the current private owner, bringing the corridor under the permanent protection of the NSW parliament.
We petitioners also request that the Government:
• Undertake the minimum necessary infrastructure and safeworking system repairs/ upgrades on the Maitland to Austar Colliery corridor to commence regular passenger services from Maitland to Bellbird using existing Endeavour/Hunter rollingstock
• The local manufacture of the long-term future clean energy powered rollingstock for these services are put out to tender.
