Dear Editor

The proposed upgrade of the Great Western Highway between Mt Victoria and Lithgow is not an issue about partisan politics.  We need a bipartisan long term solution to the transport needs of the Central West not a 25+ metre B-double truck route through the Blue Mountains.  

Documents secured under Freedom of information reveal the proposed highway upgrade will cost nearly $2 billion (approximately $100 million per kilometre).

There is no dispute that safety on Victoria Pass must be addressed.  I have repeatedly called on the State Government to implement safety measures on the Pass including the installation of speed cameras, safety barriers, improved drainage, signage and lighting.  These measures won’t cost $2 billion but will address the issue of speed, a contributing factor in 49% of accidents and make the Pass safer for motorists.

The Central West Transport Needs Study notes ‘Line speeds and track geometry are insufficient to achieve competitive journey times for freight and passenger trains, and limit the ability of rail to increase its market share’. The NSW Grain Freight Review states ‘The Commonwealth Government should take a greater strategic role in the future development of the east coast grain freight network (particularly rail).’

I believe the Bells Line of Road needs to be made safer for motorists.  But a BLoR Expressway is not a long term solution to the transport needs of the Central West.

Warren Buffet, one of the world’s most successful investors has poured billions into rail so why won’t Kevin Rudd?

The Labor candidate has challenged the Liberal candidate to a public debate on health reform but what about a community Town Hall meeting on transport?

Kind regards,

Michael Paag
Letters to the Editor, Blue Mountains Gazette, April 2010

Dear Editor
NSW has a history of not maintaining its transport infrastructure. The rail from Casino to Murwillumbah is a case in point. So too is the network of rail in the Central West. (Blowing the whistle SMH August 22-23 2009).
If we are to enjoy a sophisticated  21st century life-style with reduced carbon emissions, we need a rail renaissance. An efficient freight road-rail transport infrastructure to the ports and domestic distribution centres goes with a network of rail for commuters.
Sincerely,
Carolyn van Langenberg
Letters to the Editor SMH 24/08/09

Dear Editor,
Anyone who has driven through the township of Lawson in the Blue Mountains recently would have experienced incredible congestion, mostly resulting from RTA roadworks. The number of large trucks being held up, and mixed with local and commuter traffic, is astounding. This is all with the promise of improved efficiency and flow in the future. However, even the addition of one set of traffic lights at Hazelbrook, the next town toward Sydney, has led to massive delays in peak hour traffic. Yet there are more traffic lights to be added, many schools with the necessary 40k zone and a number of speed limit changes from Penrith to Mt Victoria. This in itself should indicate that the government has got it wrong. The money that is being poured into improving the GWH would be better spent upgrading the rail system and putting freight onto rail, instead of increasing the risk of serious accidents with trucks. Concurrently the passenger service could be improved and then locals and tourists would make more use of it, as they did in 2000 when encouraged to use public transport during the Olympics. I don't agree with a superhighway concept - we need to use the rail system and improve support infrastructure for the safety and amenity of Blue Mountains locals and visitors, as well as for the environment.

Erst Carmichael
49 Honour Ave
Lawson
4759 2058