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EYRE PENINSULA
GRAIN TRANSPORT ISSUES PAPER Member for Flinders Liz Penfold urged all people and companies associated with the Eyre Peninsula railway system to read the Eyre Peninsula Grain Transport Issues Paper. “One possible negative that could come about is the demise of the Eyre Peninsula rail system. This can be avoided through thoughtful submissions that consider transport needs, both current and future,” she said. “The Issues Paper canvases the future of the transport and delivery aspect of the grain industry, particularly in relation to the future of Eyre Peninsula’s rail system and the ports at Port Lincoln and Thevenard. “Decisions made on the basis of submissions received by Transport SA will affect the industry for decades to come and should not be limited to grain. I believe that the current and future requirements for transport from the mining industry, possible future standardisation and linking at Whyalla into the Darwin line to provide access to Asian markets for our products should also be assessed,” she said. There are large deposits of iron ore and coal that may need to be transported for use in Whyalla or to Darwin or Port Lincoln for export. Existing salt and gypsum businesses should also have a say as should road users, for example farmers and trucking companies. Environmental and road impact costs should the railway be lost have also to be taken into account. Submissions can be made up to the 24th January 2003 by post to Eyre Peninsula Grain Transport Submission, C/- Transport SA, 33 Warwick Street, Walkerville 5081, or by a number of other means. The Issues Paper is available through Transport SA internet site at http:/www.transport.sa.gov.au/index.asp or from the Flinders electorate office. Mrs Penfold said it is disappointing that the report on such an important issue is so limited, has not been widely distributed, and the response stage to the inquiry on grain transport on Eyre Peninsula coincides with the busy harvest period. She points out that as a result of the sale of rail assets there is a government fund to upgrade railways that should be used as a matter of priority to upgrade Eyre Peninsula’s rail system. “But it’s our region. This is our opportunity to influence how our region will look and it must not be missed,” she said. |
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