Whilst Infrastructure NSW in their 2012
report “First things first” considers that Maldon Dombarton can wait until the
2020s, the Federal Government in late 2012 awarded contracts for
engineering, planning and environmental works for this long overdue railway
line.
As SCLC Secretary Arthur Rorris noted on ABC Stateline on 26 September 2012 (view here): "It is probably the most studied piece of half finished piece
infrastructure on the planet by now."
The need for Maldon Dombarton has again being highlighted by formal
advice from rail freight operator Pacific National to Boral: that Pacific
National Bulk Rail is unable to identify a suitable commercial or operational
train path for Pacific National to provide a 3rd daily train for
PN’s current operations for haulage from Boral’s Dunmore siding into Sydney.
As a result:
(Illawarra Mercury Jan. 25,
2013)
Truck movements from Boral's hard rock quarry at Dunmore could jump 50% under
a proposal being considered. The company is seeking to modify its existing
development consent to increase the size of the quarry by two hectares and also
to increase the amount of product hauled from the quarry by road.
The change would allow material approved for road haulage to rise from 1
million tonnes to 1.5 million tonnes a year.
WTC says ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
The Mt Ousley Road has seen a notable increase in heavy truck
movements in recent years (more coal, imported cars, grain and now quarry
products). How much more at a time heavy bulk truck operations
are effectively being subsidized through underpricing of road access and add to
road safety risk whilst there is no effective control of noise?
Some members of WTC can recall Premier Wran in September 1983 announcing
that the Maldon Port Kembla Railway would be completed within three years.
WTC would welcome an announcement in 2013 that the Maldon Dombarton rail
link will be completed by 2016.
In addition, WTC would like to see Port Kembla expanded to have
container facilities with use of the new rail link to Moorebank Intermodal
Terminal.
