NSW:Keneally welcomes fast rail study

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-2010
NSW:Keneally welcomes fast rail study

SYDNEY, Aug 5 AAP - NSW Premier Kristina Keneally has welcomed a federal feasibility
study into a high-speed rail link between Sydney and Brisbane, saying it may be one way
to address climate change and population growth.

Under the plan announced on Thursday by federal Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese,
the government has promised up to $20 million for a study into a fast railway linking
Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.

The study will focus particularly on the Sydney to Newcastle leg.

Ms Keneally said the proposal was a "very positive step towards building a sustainable
Australia".

"We must recognise with the growing concern about climate change, with the growing
population, we do need to have plans in place for future population growth, and future
movement of people between our major cities," Ms Keneally told reporters in Sydney.

Ms Keneally labelled the study "prudent" when asked if a fast rail link was "pie-in-the-sky",
given similar proposals have been floated and shelved numerous times in the past.

"It's prudent that we as a community, that governments consider options," she said.

"The only way you can do that is by looking very seriously at what are both the opportunities
and challenges."

NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell said on Thursday neither a Gillard government
nor a state Labor government would be able to deliver.

The idea was a "plan for votes, not a plan for transport", he said.

"Labor promised to deliver a high-speed rail link for the Hunter, but like most of
its transport promises, it never happened," he said in a statement.

"This is a desperate grab for votes from an incompetent Labor Party which has let down
the people of the Hunter and the Central Coast for years."

NSW Greens Senate candidate Lee Rhiannon on Thursday welcomed the federal government's
announcement but said the NSW government had a bad track record in delivering on transport
projects.

The Australian Greens have long been lobbying for such a study to be undertaken.

AAP ab/klm/jsh

KEYWORD: POLL10 RAIL NSW UPDATE

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