Railway History and Reconciliation Road Extension

This interesting peice was sent to WSPTU from Kevin Eadie at Action For Public Transport (APT NSW).

Reconciliation Road Extension

I note that earthworks for the southern extension of Reconciliation Road through Boral's Prospect Quarry currently end abruptly at the Liverpool-Parramatta Transitway. Thank you for the information that the further southern extension will involve a signalised intersection with Davis Road.

To reach Davis Road, the extension of Reconciliation Rd must obviously cross the Tway, the water supply pielines, and Prospect Creek.

My prime interest is the preservation of the remains of the timber trestle railway bridge, including approach embankments, abutments, three or four "skew" piers, and associated civil works, which carried the Widemere Quarry Railway across Prospect Creek. The remains lie directly in the path of the road extenson, approximately twenty metres west of the Widemere Rd crossing of Prospect Creek.

The railway was operational between about 1925 and 1945. At least one report on the history of the railway claims that all remains have been destroyed. This is clearly not the case. I understand that a heritage assessment regarding the trestle remains was prepared for the environmental impact statement leading up to the construction of the Transitway in about 2002, but I have not seen that documentation.

I would like to know how the current plans allow for Reconcilliation Road to cross the T-way, the water pipelines, and Prospect Creek and whether the trestle remains are to be protected.

'The Gap' and the Bus Network Review

Many of the entries on this Blog, and the associated links, are about people who are unhappy with changes to the bus network which have made it harder for them to catch the bus. Western Sydney Community Forum has written a discussion paper about this and they have called the problem 'The Gap'.

'The Gap'

As the Bus Reform (the Bus Network Review) process has progressed, putting an emphasis on faster, more direct bus services which do not circulate through the suburban side-streets as much as they did previously, there has been an outcry from many older people who are feeling the effects of this as social exclusion because their bus routes have changed and they can no longer access the services they once enjoyed. They resent having a service taken away and often feel neglected by the Government and services providers - as if they ‘don’t count’ anymore.

Click here to read the paper (2 pages long).

Transport and the Henry Tax Review

Transport is an important part of the Henry Tax Review, but the Government has not picked up any of the recommendations in this round of reforms. They seem to have their hands quite full at the moment.

It is disappointing, though, for people who have been talking about the problems with the fringe benefit tax, the system of lease-back cars, and the lack of facility to claim public transport use as a tax deduction.

Here are the relevant links taken from the Going Solar newsletter.

Australia’s Future Tax System
(Henry Tax Review) 2010
 Consultation Paper, Section 12: Fuel, Roads and Transport
See: http://taxreview.treasury.gov.au/content/ConsultationPaper.aspx?doc=html/publications/Papers/Consultation_Paper/section_12.htm  Final Report: Overview – Chapter 12: List of Recommendations
See Recommendations 9 (a) and 61-68: http://taxreview.treasury.gov.au/content/FinalReport.aspx?doc=html/publications/papers/Final_Report_Part_1/chapter_12.htm

WSPTU Transport Symposium 2010 - August 7

The WSPTU Transport Symposium 2010 will be on August 7 at the Granville Youth and Community Recreation Centre from 10am to 4pm.

At the last meeting of the WSPTU main group, we decided that we would proceed with the idea of having another symposium like we did last year. The design of the Symposium will probably be different, however, because the Symposium in 2009 was largely about people from different groups meeting each other and finding out what the different groups do.

At this last meeting some of the WSPTU groups made a number of suggestions about what should happen at the Symposium. The WSPTU Steering Group will now start organising the Symposium, in consultation with the member groups. If you have any suggestions for things that you would like to see at the Symposium please leave a comment here or email us at wsbustop@gmail.com .

Council For Intellectual Disability Consultation

In April, people at the NSW Council For Intellectual Disability hosted one of their regular Forums in Blacktown Libary and the topic was 'transport'.

Here are their recommendations:

* Announcements on the train need to be clearer and louder.

* People need to be told by an announcement "Go to the guard's carriage for security".

* People need to watch out for the gap between the train and the platform. Why can't there be something that comes out from the train to cover the gap?

* The words on the station platform indicator screens need to be bigger and they need to change more slowly. The words need to stay on the screen longer.

* Remember that when changes are made, like when a train or a bus is cancelled, some people can find it very difficult to figure out what to do. Changes shouldn't be made if possible. Station staff need to be sensitive to this and make sure everyone knows what to do.

To find out more about the Council For Intellectual Disability, click here: NSW CID

Congestion Charging Discussion

Part of the Henry Review of Taxation discussed the use of congestion charging to manage traffic demand and provide revenue for public transport. This hasn't been one of the issues that the Federal Government has decided to pick up. Why not? How would a congestion charge effect people in Western Sydney?
The ABC is doing a program about this issue today Monday May 10. Here is the link: ABC Australia Talks

Campbelltown Submission to Metro Transport Plan

Bill Craig has prepared a submission for the Metropolitan Transport Plan on behalf of the Campbelltown and District Commuters Association. Click Here

Date: 27/04/2010

Contents
Introduction
Why Should We Worry?
Austerity
The Carbon Fuel Cycle
Electricity
Transport
Water Resources and Consumption
Future Directions
“Alternate” Energy Generation
What if.....
About the Author
Attachments
Why Rail Electrification?
Ultra Light Rail
Transport Considerations

WSPTU Meeting This Saturday May 8th

WSPTU will be meeting again this Saturday.

If you are part of a group working on transport issues in your area and you would like to be part of WSPTU please come to the meeting. Give us a call on 02 9633 5068 or email wsbustop@gmail.com if you would like to confirm. If you are not part of a group but would like to be then please contact us.

At this meeting we will be getting feedback from what the local groups have been doing and we will be starting to plan our Transport Symposium 2010 scheduled for August 7.

Saturday, May 8
2pm - 4pm
at Western Sydney Community Forum
Level 4, 146 Marsden St
Parramatta

This is a security building on the weekend so you will need to wait at the front door and we'll be there to let you in, or call Hugh on 0407 232 879 for access.

A short walk from Parramatta station or the Loop bus.