Pacific National $118 million got to improve NSW grain haulage and infrastructure upgrades; but stopped hauling grain, switched to coal |
First 6 of 6 paragraphs shown Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon told the NSW Legislative Council on 28 February 2008 said Pacific National had said that it would no longer transport export grain in New South Wales, in order to concentrate on more profitable coal haulage. But when Pacific National bought the Federal Government owned National Rail Corporation and New South Wales Government owned FreightCorp for $1.2 billion in 2001 the contractual agreement involved a price reduction of $118 million in return for a commitment to grain haulage and infrastructure upgrades. The profit motive to raise pollution; Pacific National withdrew from transporting export grain following the expiration of the formal obligation If the grain was not transported by rail the only alternative was road haulage, which would put tens of thousands of extra trucks on rural and regional roads, thereby increasing the safety risks to other road users, costing the State millions of dollars in increased road maintenance, as well as increased noise and air pollution, traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse impact: Ttransporting grain by rail required one third less diesel fuel per tonne than trucks Buy-back the farm says Greens: Lee Rhiannon, Greens, NSW Legislative Council wanted to kbnow if if all the commitments made by Pacific National with regard to the purchase of new rolling stock and locomotives were honoured, and sought a guarantee that provision of rail grain haulage was deemed a critical infrastructure service for the State. ...Log in to read rest of Article or image. |