Byron councillors opposing multiple rail corridor uses told their approach amounts to ‘economic and climate vandalism’

South-east Queensland’s population will explode in the next 20 years, and there’s only one road connecting them to the Northern Rivers. Is the Byron Shire rail corridor a key to future transport options?

Byron Shire councillor Basil Cameron has pushed for further action toward the shire's rail corridor reactivation.

There has been a fresh push to see a multi-use reactivation of the rail corridor in the Byron Shire.

Byron Shire councillors voted on Thursday to continue work toward a solution with Transport for NSW and to request an expedited workshop with the department.

The council will also seek funding from Transport for NSW to clear vegetation from the rail corridor and will seek state and federal funds for the corridor activation.

This suite of actions was flagged as urgent by councillor Basil Cameron, who took the matter further than the council’s staff had recommended.

“We live in a major urban growth corridor,” he said.

“Unless we start to diversify our transport network and getting some alternative infrastructure in place the demands on that one road … are only going to grow.”

The Byron Shire's rail corridor, subject to the Rail with Trail investigations.

The council has had workshops with Transport for NSW and the Department of Regional NSW on November 6, 2020 and March 5, 2021 and another is expected to be held by the end of July.

According to the council staff report, a detailed engineering assessment would be required to better understand the condition of rail infrastructure between Byron Bay and Mullumbimby and vegetation would need to be cleared before that assessment can happen.

A mayoral minute before the council in late 2016 led to a feasibility study to consider options for reactivating the corridor between Bangalow and Yelgun for multi-use purposes, including considering whether a rail trail can coexist with public transport such as light rail.

It’s something now ruled out in the Tweed Shire after a decision by that council to have existing tracks torn up.

“We need to keep those conversations going and we need to make sure that the state understands that the sorts of dollars they’re talking about putting into an upgrade of the (Ewingsdale Road) interchange could pay for two or three re-activations of our rail corridor,” Mr Cameron said.

“The Gold Coast, southern Queensland is expected to grow 66 per cent by 2041.

“We’ve got one road corridor that links us with them.”

“The NSW government has clearly stated that they have no current budget to fund this work,” staff said in their report.

Councillor Alan Hunter was firm on his continued opposition to the project and councillor Jan Hackett said it was “not viable” to “get any form of rail on the current line”.

To his opponents, Mr Cameron said: “you guys have got to wake up to yourselves”.

“It’s economic and climate vandalism,” he said.

“And it is you and your parties who will have to explain to our communities.”

Mayor Michael Lyon said while there was uncertainty about what might happen in the end, he wasn’t comfortable abandoning the project now.

“For us to change course now, it’s not advisable,” he said.

“One thing’s for sure, whether it’s a rail trail … or some sort of light rail or other form of transport … we have to clear the corridor of vegetation.

“I think by having more of these options currently on the table … we’re more likely to get the funding to get that done.”

The motion passed with Mr Cameron, Mr Lyon, deputy mayor Sarah Ndiaye, Jeannette Martin and Cate Coorey supporting it.

Ms Hackett, Mr Hunter and Paul Spooner voted against the motion.