I congratulate Malcolm Gunning (president of the Real Estate Institute of Australia – REIA) for his statements on the need for transport, essential for the success of small towns etc., having spent the last 20 years as a strong advocate for improvements and from Inverell and within the towns and village of this shire and nearby shires whose populations use Inverell’s comprehensive facilities as their Service Town especially government services and advanced medical technologies.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
2016 saw the NSW Inquiry into Pubic Transport led by the then Minister for Transport, now NSW Premier (Gladys Berejiklian).
Several comprehensive submissions from Inverell were submitted to this process which called for suggestions on how these services could be improved. Nothing has eventuated from this inquiry locally.
My submission in brief called for:
1 The Tuesday TRAINLINK/COACH service to Armidale and return which stops at the rail station and CBD be extended to the Armidale Airport – Simple change, cost effective. Especially for those people without car ownership and those with medical post-operation travel needs. This would enhance the region’s townsfolk and the even more rural remote residents to greater access to city and interstate aviation services.
2 Moree – Grafton TRAINLINK COACH SERVICE – ALTERNATE DAYS. This alternate days timetable needs restructuring into two daily services. one to commence at Moree. One to commence from Grafton. Both utilising the existing driver meal/rest break at Inverell as a crossover point.
This would allow more regional remote residents along this very long route to access their nearest service town and return on the same day.
It would also enhance effective linkage to the north/south public transport services on the Pacific and New England Highways, without a forced overnight stay to continue their east/west journey on the ‘no service’ days of the Moree-Grafton TRAINLINK COACH route.
Also, no thought has been given just consideration to the synchronisation of the various types of public transport which exists currently into and around Inverell’s exapanding CBD area, environs, ie hospital; McLean complex, etc.
Both the Shire Council and the Chamber of Commerce have been remiss in this regard.
Commercial progress and tourism requires effective and synchronised inter-town public transport services and effective complimentary timetables.
Betty Moore, OAM
