Hills residents demand rail bypass commitment

Hills residents are demanding the major political parties rid their suburbs of noisy freight trains by finally committing to a rail freight bypass.

In the lead up to the federal election, Mitcham Council’s Rail Freight Committee is holding a public meeting at which candidates will be grilled about their plans to address noise and safety concerns along the freight line.

While candidates in the federal electorates of Boothby and Mayo have acknowledged residents’ concerns, none has guaranteed a bypass during the next term of government.

Rail Freight Committee chairman and Mitcham councillor Mark Ward said not rerouting the trains, as recommended in the recently-released Adelaide Rail Freight Movements study, was simply not good enough.

“If we do nothing now, we are passing on the problem to the next generation,” Cr Ward said.

“We want a commitment from the Liberal and Labor parties that they are going to do something now they cannot leave it any longer.”

For more than 10 years, Hills residents have complained about excessive noise from wheel squeal, traffic congestion and safety risks from possible derailments.

During the 2007 election campaign, both parties promised $3 million towards a study into Mitcham’s proposal for a northern bypass.

In June, the 20-month study ruled out rerouting freight trains, saying it would be too expensive to move or upgrade the track and the cost would outweigh any social or environmental benefits.

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Cr Ward urged people to attend the public meeting to show how important the issue was for the electorates of Boothby and Mayo.

“Politicians are there for the people, not for the government,” he said. “People are wanting action and the candidates are going to be asked what action they will take.”

Boothby MHR Andrew Southcott (Lib) said while he was supportive of a rail freight bypass, his party was still exploring options and would make its position known during the election campaign.

Dr Southcott said he and Mayo MHR Jamie Briggs were “looking at a whole lot of options for the Liberal Party to take forward”.

“It (a bypass) is something we are fighting for but we are not in a position to comment on the Liberal Party policy at this stage.”

Mr Briggs said a bypass “makes a whole lot of sense” but a major hurdle was the estimated $2.4 billion cost.

Labor candidate for Boothby Annabel Digance said the Federal Government had fulfilled its last election promise by releasing the Adelaide Rail Freight Movement Study.

She said she had been consulting with a number of groups about freight, including Mitcham Council and the Blackwood Action Group.

“I will make this issue a key priority and continue to work with all of the relevant stakeholders to achieve the best possible outcome for the people of the area,” she said.

The study has been given to Infrastructure Australia for consideration as it finalises the National Freight Network Strategy.

The Labor Party had not confirmed a Mayo candidate at the time of the Hills and Valley Messenger’s deadline.

The Greens Party has backed residents’ calls for a rail bypass.

via Messenger News