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Trains welcomed – next stop Standard GaugeGippsland Local Government Network Chairperson said the return of passenger trains to Bairnsdale and Leongatha was a win for the
whole of Gippsland By Latrobe City Council - 16th May 2001 - Back to News Gippsland Local Government Network Chairperson, Councillor Tony Hanning said the return of passenger trains to Bairnsdale and Leongatha was a win for the whole of Gippsland, claiming the return of the trains would enhance the region’s tourism potential and the region’s economic development.
"This is a win for plain common sense, and it is a tribute to the State Government, the independent, government and opposition MPs who lobbied for the return of services, and the communities who dug in and wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer," Cr Hanning said.
"When the previous government pulled the trains out of Bairnsdale and Leongatha, they not only dealt Gippsland communities a blow, but ripped out the arteries that delivered the life-giving blood to those communities. The elderly, those without private transport and those wanting to avoid a tiring drive to the City suddenly found themselves with a third-rate substitute service that discouraged them from travelling and added lengthy additional travel time to their itineraries. As a consequence people avoided the inconvenience of being shuffled onto buses where possible, and that harmed social interaction and local economies. In all essence the removal of trains from Bairnsdale and Leongatha was a mean and uninspiring move perpetrated on country people by the Kennett Government.
"Returning the trains to Gippsland will encourage people back onto public transport and overcome the isolationism felt by many. It will stimulate new initiatives in tourism and develop new markets for tourism related products," Cr Hanning said.
"While we are generous in our praise of the Bracks Government for its commitment to overturning an injustice and stimulating growth in the region, this is an opportune time to remind both State and Federal Governments of the need to extend the standard gauge rail network into Gippsland.
"Increasingly, other parts of Victoria are being linked by standard gauge to the network that links Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane. Unless the standard gauge is introduced here in Gippsland, we will be the odd man out, and this region will become increasingly more isolated and disadvantaged.
"Rail consignments currently need to be exchanged onto the standard gauge network in Melbourne, and while other parts of Victoria remain in a similar position to us, Gippsland remains competitive. However as the field narrows, as more areas are connected to standard gauge, the potential problem of disadvantage for this region deepens. Our governments need to assure the community that Gippsland will be linked to the standard gauge network, and identify when our needs will be met, so the future prosperity of the region can be assured," Cr Hanning concluded.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: latrobecity@gippslander.com
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