30 August 2024 

The Hon. Jo Haylen 

Minister for Transport 

NSW Government 

The Hon. Jenny Aitchinson  

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads 

NSW Government

By email:

Kate.lee@minister.nsw.gov.au office@aitchison.minister.gov.au 

Dear Ministers, 

Rail Trails – Casino to Murwillumbah disused rail line 

We write to express our concerns about a proposal by local councils in the Northern Rivers to convert parts of the disused rail line between Casino and Murwillumbah to a “rail trail”. 

Despite their popularity and obvious recreational benefits for communities, the proposal, particularly as touted in the campaign by the Labor candidates in the Byron Shire Council election, is short-sighted, contrary to long-term planning, and inconsistent with NSW Labor Party policy. 

The NSW Labor policy platform includes: 

NSW Labor is committed to developing regional rail throughout NSW. It will actively investigate the prospect of reopening closed lines and instigate a business case for expansion into areas not currently serviced by rail. 

By removing the track and associated infrastructure, the area will likely lose the opportunity to enjoy rail transport in any form. Particularly in an age when rail transport is enjoying new focus owing to its obvious benefits to the environment, and as an efficient means of mass transit of goods and people.  

Given the commitment of Labor to develop regional rail, permanently depriving a region of rail transport is contrary to current policy and broader public policy. Further, there is no coherent reason that rail trail ought to replace rail track, rather than compliment it.  

Despite various assertions by rail trail advocates, there is no reason why the trail cannot be laid next to existing rail track, with special measures being put in place to deal with tunnels. For example, for tunnels, concrete surfaces can be laid between the tracks and either side, 

or simply by having the trail go over the hill given that bikes do not have the difficulty with inclines like trains do. 

We are calling on the NSW Government to work with the RTBU and local rail advocacy groups on investigating the reopening of the Casino to Murwillumbah line, and actively engage in other areas to reopen those line, for instance, the Main North Line above Armidale. 

We would welcome your engagement on this important issue and ask for your commitment that no action will be taken to remove any existing rail track infrastructure until such a time that proper investigation has taken place in line with the policy platform. 

If you wish to discuss any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

Yours faithfully 

Toby Warnes 

Branch Secretary