PUBLIC MEETING TO SAVE A RAIL LINE (13/12/08): Newcastle, NSW

[Red_Rattler]

PUBLIC MEETING TO SAVE A RAIL LINE​

Thanks to the moderator that gave me permission to advertise this community public meeting.

Can you please let others know about the public meeting.

Their is a public meeting to help save the Newcastle to Broadmeadow heavy rail line (Newcastle, NSW) on Saturday 13th December 2008 (AEDT) at Newcastle Leagues Club, National Park Street, Newcastle.

Click here if you can't see picture.

To summarise
A developer wants to remove the heavy rail line (read valuable real estate for them, despite what they show the public), along with a business organisation, and some businesses, (and this includes a manager of an inner city hobby shop - that sells model trains), want the line closed. (I must stress that this does not include another hobby shop)

Most polls show that the majority of people what the heavy rail line kept, however the other day, the Hunter Research Foundation (HRF) showed the opposite where they claim that most supported the removal, if a fast bus was to replace the heavy rail line.
In regards to the HRF poll, please note that the developer paid the HRF to do this poll of "500 eligible
" residents.

 

[Stationbeem]

Just goes to show what lengths some people will go to to destroy nostalgia. As for the manager of the hobby shop... the "Gallows" comes to mind.:n:

 

[Red_Rattler]

ATTENTION: Newcastle rail line once again in danger of being removed

Newcastle rail line needs your help,
as it is once again in danger of being removed

First, I regret mods and admins, that I have to reference a politics - but remember it is in regards to an important issue regarding a rail line.

Secondly, I'm having internet access problems so can only be brief.

According to MP Jodi MacKay, it looks like she will break the NSW government's promise to keep the rail line, and may indeed cut it. I have a document which goes into it further, but I will have to post that later. She basically said yesterday that "everything is on the table (including cutting the rail line) and that she will be taking it to the Hunter Development Corporation - and they are ones that support cutting it.

I believe that the meeting that this group is having tomorrow is now more important than ever.

PS: Spelling fix later if any mistakes

 

[Boobless_ed]

This angers me. It angers me to see the corruption. There was a website set up about this with 'open' forums, I think called 'EDIT NAME REMOVED' or some such. In very small print in a dark corner of this website, it was mentioned that it was maintained by the developers. Nearly all of the comments - aside from being written with a suspiciously similar style - were for the railway being ripped up, even though they only stated the one point of view.

There are dirty tricks going on here.

I wish I was back in Australia a few days before so I could attend this forum.

It's very apparent that none of the developers have ever spent more than a week outside their hotel room around the region...

 

[Red_Rattler]

This post may be longish.

Boobless_Ed, although you can't come, if possible contact other people and let them know about the meeting to save the Newcastle heavy rail line.

This angers me. It angers me to see the corruption.

And you're telling me??

There was a website set up about this with 'open' forums, I think called 'beat the drum' or some such.

It wasn't called that, and believe it is best NOT to advertise, nor name or link to it, as it was set up by the local MP Jodi Mackay, and surprise, surprise, developers were the ones that actually set it up for her.) I know many know what the site was/is called, but believe it better, if you do know, not to publish it. I also have trouble trying to figure out how in one or two nights, it jumped up by 30,000+ views.

And Crickey.dom proves it.

Lobbyists are behind community forum site [name of forum removed]
Wednesday, 2 July 2008

Crozier and Butteriss are also directors of Duo Consulting Pty Ltd registered in October 2006 which operates from the same address as [name of forum removed]. Before becoming a private lobbyist, Crozier worked for the NSW Labor Government in the Hunter region managing planning and infrastructure

It then goes on and states:

So the dynamic duo wear two hats: on one hand they work directly for big developers and on the other they offer a platform for online community consultation for councils through [name of fourm removed]. . .
. . .Since privatising himself Crozier’s clients have included Bob Rose’s Rosecorp(1) Hardie Holdings, Stockland, Rio Tinto Coal, Crighton Properties and Astonfields

In very small print in a dark corner of this website, it was mentioned that it was maintained by the developers.

See above.

Nearly all of the comments - aside from being written with a suspiciously similar style - were for the railway being ripped up, even though they only stated the one point of view.

I have to disagree their Boobless Ed, but as soon as you supported keeping the rail line, the "thumbs down" would get a quick reaction, as if it was sort of automated, however I'm not saying that that was the case.

I noticed this paragraph on the site regarding their polls. I thought they are not suppose to know who is voting, and how people are voting.

See COMMENT FROM ADMINISTRATOR (of [name of forum removed])
...However, in this instance we have 29 signups from a single address mostly well outside business hours and all exhibit virtually identical voting patterns (against the development)...

Or in otherwords, the administrators know who is voting for what!

1. I believe that Rosecorp also wants to build a housing development and the nearby residents (who were their first) are mostly opposed to the development

 

[Boobless_ed]

I'll call a few of my old mates from Newcastle and try and get them to do their bit. Good idea. Many of them joined me at several meetings when this was first proposed (and rejected), so I'm sure they'll be willing.

There was nowhere near as many dirty tricks being played the last time this was proposed, and I get a horrible feeling that if we manage to save the line a second time, they'll be back again for more a few years down the track.

 

[Red_Rattler]

I wish I was back in Australia a few days before so I could attend this forum.

Just slightly off-track, okay, okay way off track, but what country(ies) are you invading, um I mean visiting?

There was nowhere near as many dirty tricks being played the last time this was proposed, and I get a horrible feeling that if we manage to save the line a second time, they'll be back again for more a few years down the track.

At first, the local MP said she would NOT (repeat NOT) be blackmailed by a developer demanding that the state government to commit to removing the rail line in five months, or they will not go ahead with their development.

But I find it interesting that the developer has three videos, the first and second ones they showed to the public and the media, showing a green corridor, yet their latest video which was (remember "was") public at first, but is now private - and this video shows large scale (possibly high rise) buildings on the actual rail corridor. See captured shots at the Save Our Rail site here for what the actual developer really wants, and this includes replacing a bus terminus with buildings, according to GPT's now private video - surely they haven't got something to hide have they?? (This was the URL for the video)

Their is a poll on The Herald's website here which states: "Is keeping heavy rail in the inner-city in the best interests of Newcastle and its renewal?"

When it first stated, it was in favour of NO, before it was exactly 65% YES, now it is 65.1%, but guess what you can do if you delete the cookies?

And yes, I am sure the anti-rail businesses, developers try to give the poll a hand - if ya get my drift.

Just to remind rail enthusiasts, that their is a certain hobby shop in inner Newcastle that sells trains (he claims he has the largest hobby store in Australia ), and the manager is one of the main supporters of removing the rail line. Don't get this shop with OTHER hobby shops.

Of course, the real terminus WILL NOT likely be Wickham, but Broadmeadow - about 5 kilometres away.

Just one final point, the residents elected a government, they DID NOT elect the Hunter Business Chamber, GPT or any other non-government company to represent them, yet the state government seems to bowing to developers demand. On a current affair show tonight, it showed a developer giving a local government councillor $1,000.

 

[Red_Rattler]

Save Our Rail plan to keep Newcastle rail line

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/lo...plan-to-keep-newcastle-rail-line/1385983.aspx

 

[Red_Rattler]

Save Our Rail plan to keep Newcastle rail line

Save Our Rail plan to keep Newcastle rail line

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/lo...plan-to-keep-newcastle-rail-line/1385983.aspx

Note how small the article is compared to anti-rail articles?

Picture on the article: http://www.theherald.com.au/multimedia/images/full/417866.jpg
Not saying this is correct, but I have a feeling that perhaps The Herald editor may have had edited some people standing at the back out. Notice how all parts of the people and not just the faces are pixeled out.