Minutes of the LRTC Meeting 17th February 2018 at Picton

LACHLAN REGIONAL TRANSPORT COMMITTEE

Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held in Picton at the Picton Council Chambers on Saturday 17th February 2018

Vice Chairman Maurice Simpson opened the meeting and welcomed everyone present.

Vice Chairman introduced Mayor of Wollondilly Judith Hannan to welcome every one present.

ATTENDANCE: As per attendance sheet Total 15

APOLOGIES: Ian Gray, Noelene Milliken, Adem Long, Steph Cooke, Michael O’Leary, Dom Figliomeni, Rob Fisher, Dale Wiencke, Stephen McFallan, Stephen O’Byrne, Philip Laird, Max Duffey, Lawrance Ryan, Gordon Bradbury Total 15 MOVED: Bill West That apologies be accepted. SECONDED: Ken McGrath CARRIED

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: Held at Wollongong AIW 4th November 2017 be accepted as read MOVED: Ray Morris SECONDED: John Faulks CARRIED. MOVED: Judith Hannan That the Address of the ABN be changed to Lawrance Ryan. SECONDED: Bill West CARRIED

BUSINESS ARISING: Discussion on Arthur Rorris: South Coast Labour Council address to the last meeting

SECRETARYS REPORT: No Report

CORRESPONDENCE IN:
Report from Ian Cameron (LVR) Regarding the line from Cowra to Woodstock.
David Farley from Narrandera re: the Inland Rail Project
Notice of Change of Association Address NSW Fair Trading
Steph Cooke re: $5mil cheque to Hilltops Council
Transport NSW re. $400 mill Fixing Country Rail
Ian Gray re: NSW Freight & Ports Plan
ARTC John Fullerton re: Inland Rail
Rail page: re Fast train between Canberra & Sydney
Ian Gray: re Fixing Country Rail.

CORRESPONDENCE OUT: Letter to Steph Cooke re $5mill missing cheque. Philip Laird: re Draft Submission infrastructure plan to 2056 MOVED: Ray Morris SECONDED: Eddy Wilkinson CARRIED.

TREASURERS REPORT: Presented by Dennis Hughes Opening Balance as at 1/11/17 $10810.42 Income $ 3601.30 Expenses $ 530.00 Closing Balance as at 31/1/18 $ 13881.72 MOVED: Dennis Hughes That the Treasurers Report be accepted and A/C be paid SECONDED: Judith Hannan CARRIED.

REPORTS:
Maurice Simpson attended a meeting at Parliament House Canberra regarding the progress of the Inland Rail project and commented on that a number of farmers are concerned about their stock crossings and the width of the line easement. David Farley Narrandera was invited to this meeting to discuss his problems regarding the Inland Rail.

Hilltops: John Horton Would like to see the Harden Station manned and cleaned up and looked after as it is the only station in the Hilltops Council to be on the main line and if not cleaned up and manned at least when the XPT stops to encourage tourism. It was stated that the XPT does not stop at Harden unless notified. MOVED: John Horton A letter be sent to Andrew Constance requesting that the Harden Rail Station be cleaned and maned. SECONDED: Bede Ryan CARRIED.

COWRA: Bill West. Plans for the low level bridge at Cowra to be replaced. Lachlan Valley Way upgrade to the approaches to the bridge. Maldon - Dombarton line. Every time Bill speaks to Ministers about that line they seem to think it is important. Also the Council is still working the Blayney – Demondrille Line and still applying for other grants. Still working on the Bells Line of Road and this group need to support the planed corridor. The Minister would be making a statement in the near future. There is a lot of meetings and conversation going on behind closed doors. MOVED: Eddy Wilkinson SECONDED: John Faulks That the Committee talk to all relevant Ministers concerning the Maldon – Dombarton, Blayney – Demondrille lines and the Bells Line of Road CARRIED.

Discussion on more ways to provide press releases. Bill to gather items from other Councils for press releases.

PARKES: Ken McGrath, Farmers concerned about farm crossing over the Inland Rail. Rail bridges from Parkes to Narromine have been up graded and there is still a lot of rail adjustments to be done. The Elvis Festival was very well attended and very successful. Rex Airline now have 4 flights a day in and out of Parkes and they now have named one of their planes Elvis Express Parkes. Parkes will be hosting the annual Conference for Tourism. The bypass around Parkes is still a long way off.

LACHLAN VALLEY RAILWAY: Report from Ian Cameron on the Cowra – Woodstock line with the support from Cowra Council for tourism. Ray Morris Thanked Cowra Council for all the support in helping LVR to achieve the reinstating of the Cowra to Woodstock Line for tourism. MOVED: Bill West SECONDED: John Hetherington A letter of support be written to Ian Cameron President LVR and to local members and for the whole line. CARRIED.
John Hetherington commented on the importance of tourism on country lines such as Cowra to Woodstock.

JOHN FAULKS: Commented on member Council program for meeting Dates and the amount of grain tonnage out of Greenethorpe. John to investigate.

BEDE RYAN: Notified meeting that Victoria is spending $8 Bill on country rail and cannot understand the NSW Government attitude.

ANNE CHATFEILD: Criterion Group is still involved but China has pulled back on releasing capital outside of China at the moment and dealing with the NSW Government is very difficult but the Maldon – Dombarton line is still alive with the Cabinet.

JUDITH HANNAN: Reported a number of companies interested in the fast rail to the new airport. Wilton is progressing and now coming involved in the Transport Planning which for the next 5 years most of the money has been spent. Hopefully freight will be involved with the Maldon – Dombarton line. There are 8 councils around the new airport site. Judith advised that she would be attending a 12 person work shop in the Netherlands run by Sensible Transport for the 1 week course late June early July.

GENERAL BUSINESS: Discussion on Government awards. MOVED: Judith Hannan SECONDED: John Faulks That we look into, with the help from Bill West what Government awards are available CARRIED.

MOVED: Bill West. That the submission prepared by Ian Gray and Philip Laird on NSW 2018 Freight and Ports Plan be submitted SECONDED: John Heatherington CARRIED.

MOVED: Ken McGrath SECONDED: Bede Ryan The next meeting date be decided by President Dom Figliomeni CARRIED.

MEETING CLOSED 11.55am .
CHAIRMAN: …………………………………………………………………