AS an interested ratepayer/resident of Wodonga, and a supporter of the Border Rail Action Group, on Monday morning I attended the special meeting called by Wodonga Council to hear submissions made concerning the highly secretive proposed new freight rail hub at the Barnawartha North Logic Centre.
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When there is already a rail freight hub at Ettamogah, some 20 minutes away, and which is still being developed, I cannot believe our council is considering such a project.
As Wodonga ratepayers, we are already the proud owners of a $30 million debt, which it appears council is keen to increase.
Surely it makes sense to generate all energies, be they physical and/or monetary, towards getting a reliable railway service between the Border and our capital cities instead of this crazy alternative project.
Presenter Richard Hughes gave some excellent information concerning possible costs and overall viability of such a rail hub should it go ahead.
He advised that Wagga plans to build one at a cost of some $60 million.
Surely the Ettamogah facility is adequate for the district.
After all, it was this existing outlet that was originally proposed for Logic, and we did not want it, thus the Ettamogah site was established.
Times ahead of us may well be interesting, especially as we have no idea of the costings/equities etc of this Logic proposal.
Many of us agree that local governments should not act in the capacity of developers, they are there to act in the interests of ratepayers.
I for one am pleased to see that moves are afoot to put a cap on council rates.
My increase last year was 24 per cent, can anyone beat that?
— GEOFF BURTON,
Wodonga
