By TANIA PHILLIPS
Rail travel is set to return to the Far North Coast with Byron Shire Council last week unanimously voting to support North Byron Beach Resort’s light rail proposal.
The proposal now goes to the NSW Government for approval.
The plan is that from December 2014 they will run a rail-motor shuttle service between Byron Bay railway station and a new station at Bayshore Drive. It will be open for anyone to use.
“We’d like to congratulate the resort’s owners for having the vision to build a real transport option,” said Karin Kolbe, president of TOOT (Trains on our Tracks).
“It confirms the viability of light rail in the Northern Rivers,” she said.
The upgrade of the Belongil Creek bridge will include a path for cyclists/walkers.
“Their plan for shared use of the Belongil bridge by both rail and cyclists/walkers demonstrates that the corridor can be shared,” Ms Kolbe said.
“Byron Bay’s road system is crawling to a halt, and even a by-pass will only offer temporary relief if the full West Byron development of 800-plus houses goes ahead.
“Once the initial service is established, it can then be extended further along the Casino-Murwillumbah rail-line.
“Light rail will be increasingly important in moving tourists and locals around – not just around Byron Shire but the whole Northern Rivers, and beyond to south-east Queensland.”
