Local Government News

Don Page
State Matters

Rail users fall due to Government neglect

Railcorp's annual report shows that Countrylink patronage dropped by 500,000 people between 1999-2000 and 2003-04.

It seems country commuters are being forced off CountryLink rail services due to a lack of investment in rail infrastructure and poor timetabling. Labor's continued failure to invest in CountryLink has resulted in ageing rail engines and carriages and poor quality tracks to the extent that the maintenance backlog for country rail lines has grown to $600 million over the past decade.

As a result of this neglect, trains are forced to travel at a snail's pace because rail tracks and bridges just aren't able to cope. Unfortunately as the service worsens, fewer passengers travel on CountryLink. This decrease is then used to justify the closure of lines, like the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line.

The Legislative Council Report into the future of services on the Casino to Murwillumbah rail released late last month recommends the introduction of a new regular rail commuter service from Casino to Murwillumbah, the commissioning of a new study to examine the extension of the Casino to Murwillumbah line to the South-East Queensland railway line and proper planning of rail transport services in the region.

The Report's recommendations are consistent with the recommendations of the Working Group appointed by Minister Costa and comprising local MPs and Mayors. In essence the Legislative Council Report and Working Group recommend;

• Preservation of the existing line and corridor
• Introduction of commuter services
• Connection of the existing line into South-East Queensland
• Proper transport planning including rail services and involving DIPNR
• The use of the $30 million federal money to bring rail services to the region.

Minister Costa's continuing argument that it would take $188 million over 20 years to maintain the line is shown to be 'excessive' in the Report and fails to acknowledge the Price Waterhouse Coopers report, which estimates a total of $61 million over 20 years being required to maintain the line for a commuter service.

The Carr Government's failure to invest in rail infrastructure (both city and country) during its 10 years in government highlights its short-sighted approach to rail services. This lack of investment should not be used to justify further rail closures.

Christmas Toy Safety

Parents, relatives and friends are encouraged to think 'safety-first' when buying gifts for children this Christmas. As Christmas rapidly approaches, it is vital that children's safety is not overlooked when shopping for the young.

Projectile toys, which are capable of firing sharp instruments such as pencils, toys with loose parts or with parts that can easily break off posing choking dangers, and toys with sharp edges or rough surfaces that can cause cuts and splinters, are just some of the safety hazards to watch out for.

Although parents are often aware of the dangers, well- intentioned friends and relatives may not fully understand the potential risks that some toys pose to children. For example, the labelling on new toys, which reads 'not suitable for children aged under three' means that the toy contains small parts which could be swallowed. It is not an indication of skill level or intelligence required to use the toy.

To ensure safety comes first, parents and guardians should check that all gifts are safe, age appropriate and hazard-free, prior to handing toys over to the children.

Justice of the Peace Reminder

Justice of the Peace applications and reappointment forms are both available from my office. For existing JPs changes to the Justices of the Peace Act 2002 made at the end of last year require existing Justices of the Peace to renominate for continued appointment.

Justices of the Peace have three years from the implementation of the Act in December 2003 to complete the renomination process.

Completed application forms should be sent directly to; Community Relations Division, Attorney General's Department, GPO Box 6, Sydney, NSW, 2001.

The renomination application does not have to be endorsed by a Member of Parliament.

New application forms are also now available from my office. A NSW Member of Parliament (MP) must nominate applicants seeking appointment for the first time.

Applications receiving nomination will then be submitted directly to the Attorney General's Department by the relevant Member of Parliament.

I can be contacted by writing to PO Box 1018, Ballina 2478 or by telephoning my Electorate Office on 6686 7522 or faxing 6686 7470. For those on-line my e-mail address is Don.Page@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Thomas George
Canberra Connection

Young drivers consultation

I encourage young drivers, learners and p-plate drivers to obtain a copy of the Option Paper "Improving Safety for Young Drivers" released recently.

Copies can be obtained from the website youngdrivers.com.au or by contacting my office. Comments can be made on the form attached to the Options Paper and forwarded to Improving Safety for Young Drivers or by delivering to my office.

HSC Results

There are three ways to access your results from 6am on Friday, December 17.

1. log onto www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au or studentsonline.nsw.edu.au to view your full results display.
2. register for SMS delivery by texting your student number and PIN to 1977 2346. At  6am an SMS with an abbreviated version of your results will be sent to you. To cover the cost of the SMS service, there is a charge of $1.10. Mobile phone service provider charges will also apply.
3. phone 1902 220 100 to hear your results read to you. To cover the cost of the telephone service there is a charge of $1.65 per minute. Mobile and payphones extra.

Native Vegetation Buffer Zones

The NSW Labor Government must properly consult the public over infrastructure buffer distances proposed in the draft Native Vegetation Regulation 2004.

The buffer distances, under Part 4, 16 (1) b of the Regulation, were to be formulated by Catchment Management Authorities by February next year. The 20-page draft Native Vegetation Regulations do not set any distances or guidelines for infrastructure buffer distances for holdings that are not small holdings and which are not situated in the Western Division. Currently these distances are set by either a minimum state or federal government guideline, or by local government regulations through planning instruments such as Local Environment Plans. These could vary from town to town, catchment to catchment or from the tablelands to the coast.

The draft regulation proposes that Catchment Management Authorities set the buffer distances but there is no indication as to whether a Local Environment Plan would take precedence over a Catchment Management Authority regulation or vice versa. It should be noted that Catchment Management Authority members are appointed by the Natural Resources Minister and are not obliged to circulate for public discussion any guidelines they may set in this regard. It is imperative that the Minister give an assurance that these guidelines, when completed, will be subject to an ongoing consultation process, which will allow input from owners of holdings which are not small holdings.

The public consultations on the draft regulations so far have not been sufficient as only two meetings were held on the North Coast and many farmers were unable to attend other meetings due to commitments to their harvest.

ATLAS/POS Funding

After sustained pressure from the Liberal/Nationals Coalition and the community, last week the Carr Government backed down on its hugely unpopular funding cuts to Post School Options (POS) and Adult Training Learning & Support (ATLAS) programs. The Government have obviously realised how ridiculous its proposals were.

However I am still disappointed because the new proposal only offers a generic amount of $13,500 for all participants, old or new. Pressure on the Government must be maintained because this announcement does not go far enough to meet the needs of individuals or service providers.

Committee on Electoral Matters

The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters has resolved to inquire into and report upon the administration of the 2003 NSW Election and related matters. Submissions close on January 31, 2005, and can be addressed to: Attention: Stephanie Hesford, Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney, 2000. Copies of the terms of reference are available from my office.

Natural resource targets

NSW Leader of The Nationals, Andrew Stoner, has urged farmers and their communities to carefully study draft standards and targets for natural resource management across the state, following their release recently. The draft standards and targets have been developed by the newly-formed Natural Resources Commission (NRC) after the NSW Labor Government rammed major natural resource reforms through Parliament in December last year.

These standards and targets will guide the activities and investments of the 13 Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) and State Government agencies. Landholders must ensure they have input through their stakeholder groups, or individually, because these changes will ultimately have a big impact on how they run their properties. I am concerned at the bewildering array of proposed natural resource changes confronting farmers at an extremely busy time of the year on many farms and in the lead-up to the holiday season.

On top of the draft standards and targets we also have the draft Native Vegetation Regulation 2004, which details how the Native Vegetation Act 2003 will work on the ground. These regulations were developed behind closed doors and now Labor is giving farmers and their communities just weeks to comment on the regulations before they come into effect. Individuals wanting to comment directly on the draft standards and targets should visit the NRC website at www.nrc.nsw.gov.au or phone 8227 4300. The last date for written submissions in response to the consultation paper is February 26, 2005. I encourage individuals and their communities to seek the views of their CMA on what the changes will mean for local areas.

Public Holidays

Due to Christmas and New Year falling on weekends the following public holidays have been proclaimed:

Saturday 25/12 Christmas Day, Monday 27/12 (holiday), Sunday 26/12 Boxing Day, Tuesday 28/12 (holiday), Saturday 1/1 New Year's Day and Monday 3/1 (holiday).

I welcome and invite your feedback in relation to any of the above matters, please do not hesitate to contact my office regarding any matters on (ph) 6621 3624, (f) 6622 1403, by writing to PO Box 52 Lismore, e-mail; thomas.george@parliament.nsw.gov.au or www.thomasgeorge.com.au