Minutes of the LRTC Meeting 9th November 2019 at Cowra

Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held in Cowra
Saturday 9 th November 2019

Chairman Dom Figliomeni opened the meeting and welcomed everyone present.

ATTENDANCE: As per attendance sheet Total 14

APOLOGIES: Gordon Bradbery, Michael O’Leary, Philp Laird, Ian Gray, Noelene Milliken, John Hetherington, Anthony Durkin, Stephen O’Byrne, Dale Wiencke, Bede Ryan TOTAL 10 MOVED: John Faulks that apologies be accepted. SECONDED: John Horton CARRIED.

Chairman Dom introduced the Mayor of Cowra Council Bill West to welcome All present. The drought is affecting the Cowra Shire both business and primary production but water is still available but if there is no change Wyangala Dam may run dry in September 2020. Construction on the Main Street upgrade is progressing and is the low level bridge.

Chairman Dom welcomed Lawrance Ryan and Ian Cameron of the Lachlan Valley Rail to present an update of the LVR. The LVR has been based in Cowra since 1977 and have been operating heritage trains out of Cowra all over the state. Ian Cameron has been involved in the organisation since 1974 and has been on the Board of Directors, Chairman and Depot manager for over 30 years and are celebrating there 45 years this year. When the Cowra line was closed they moved most of their rolling stock out of Cowra to house in different parts of the state and are the largest heritage train operates in the state. They moved into the Cowra Depot in 1985 and have been their ever since and are now working on reopening the line to Woodstock and Blayney to heritage standard which can travel at 40 to 50ks /hour with limited weight. Other benefits for the depot would be training people to be engineers, maintenance, and drivers. Lawrance and Ian invited members of the Committee to a tour through the depot this afternoon.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING WERE READ: MOVED: Ken McGrath SECONDED: Maurice Simpson CARRIED.

BUSINESS ARISING: Web Site Pascale Stendell informed the meeting on a number of questions that need to be dealt with to upgrade the web site. Maybe an action plan be introduced to keep members informed with records. MOVED: John Horton That this matter be discussed at the next meeting when Ian Gray will be in attendance SECONDED: Garry Braithwate CARRIED.

Send out to Councils Pascale’s questions on the web site and members including the web site of another organisation to investigate which is South East Australia Transport Strategy. Pascale to contact Ian to inform him of the discussion at this meeting so he can investigate before the next meeting. MOVED: Garry Braithwate The committee accept in principle the strategy of the discussion on the web site SECONDED: Pascale Stendell CARRIED

CORRESPONDENCE IN:
16/9/19 Motion from Dubbo Regional Council asking for LRTC support. Re: River St. Bridge
18/9/19 Inland Rail August e-newsletter
20/9/19 Response from Hon Paul Toole MP
23/9/19 Dubbo Mayor meet with Hon Paul Toole MP with no result
1/10/19 Response from the Premier’s Office re: Dubbo River Street Bridge
31/10/19 Response from NSW Government Alistair Lunn Director Western Region re: River Street Bridge and Bypass Dubbo.

CORRESPONDENCE OUT:
Thank You emails to Weddin Shire, Patricio Munoz ARTC, Heath Martin ARTC, and Clementine Julian ARTC. Sharon Bennett Transport NSW, Belinda Mort catering for attending Meeting Motion from Dubbo Regional Council asking for LRTC support. Re: River St. Bridge
18/9/19 Web Site questionnaire Pascale Stendell
18/9/19 Inland Rail August e-newsletter
20/9/19 Response from Hon Paul Toole MP
24/9/19 Letter to the Premier NSW re: Dubbo River Street Bridge MOVED: Judith Hannan SECONDED: Dom Figliomeni CARRIED.

TREASURERS REPORT: Presented by Dennis Hughes Opening Balance as at 1/9/2019 $ 16,863.19 Income $628.25 Expenses $100.00 Balance 31/10/2019 $17,391.44 MOVED: Dennis Hughes That the Treasurers Report be accepted and A/Cs be paid SECONDED: Maurice Simpson CARRIED.

Dom Figliomeni made the suggestion of a newsletter after each meeting informing all members of the actions and discussions of the Committee Meeting and is happy to work with Ian on the newsletter.

Maurice Simpson requested all members, Councils and Mayors e-mail address be made available to all members. Bill to email a list of Councils emails to Vicki

REPORTS: Graham Dunn Cowra: The 2nd suppler of maps has now decided not to print or supply maps in the future. Lawrance Ryan: Attended an Inland Rail Briefing Seminar at Forbes in September looking at a funding program called Inland Rail Interface Improvement Program and the Government is calling for expressions of interest for projects for investigation under the $44 million Inland Rail Interface Improvement Program Cowra has submitted EOI under this program to investigate the possibility of connecting the reactivated Cowra – Eugowra line to Parkes and or the Cowra – Grenfell line to Caragabal to the Inland Rail. Maurice Simpson: Letter of support from this Committee to the Inland Rail enquiry and Dennis to send out reminder letters for feedback ASAP. MOVED: Maurice Simpson SECONDED: Dom Figliomeni CARRIED.

Cowra Shire Bill West: The CBD upgrade and the Government announced $1m for drought affected communities and also increased funding for the Roads to Recovery Program, still working on the low level bridge

Hilltops Council: John Horton: Harden railway Station is untidy again, the new Hospital has started also the Rural Fire Service Head Quartes is on its way. The Wombat Bush Poets have been reforming around the schools. A letter sent to ARTC, State Government and Steph Cooke re: the condition of the Harden Railway Station MOVED: Maurice Simpson SECONDED: Joe Kinsela CARRIED.

Wollongong Council: Dom Figliomeni: Passenger trains are increasing from four carriages to eight from Wollongong to service the increase in passengers. There has been an increase in the building sector in Wollongong

Garry Braithwate: River Street Bridge and Bypass no satisfaction with Paul Toole and Dougal Saunders. MOVED: Dom Figliomeni that a copy of the letter sent to the Government re the Dubbo River Street Bridge and the Bypass be sent to the Leader of the Opposition and the Shadow Minister for Local Government and invite them to the next meeting. SECONDED: Judith Hannan CARRIED.

Wollondilly Council: Judith Hannan. Still working on the Maldon Dombarton Line corridor. To get a faster train to the south through Picton is to straighten the line but will cut out Picton. No progress with loop line which is a tourism line to Bowral. Heritage Train race from Central to Strathfield. The city deal with eight Local Government areas based around the City area was never explained to the Councils but was discuss around a table and one of the biggest things discussed was rail the Government promise a north south line from Penrith though to Campbelltown

Parkes Shire Ken McGrath: The new terminal was opened by Michael McCormack and he also switched on the recircle water from the sewage works to the parks and gardens. Also another award for the Elvis Festival and remodelling the bottom part of the main street. The Inland Rail is progressing very well.

Next meeting at Picton to be conformed
15th February 2020
MEETING CLOSED 12.25pm
CHAIRMAN: …………………………………………………….