A MOTION for Mildura Council to support the NorthWest Rail Alliance (NWRA) in its efforts to return passenger rail services to Mildura has divided councillors.
While the council voted to become a member of the NWRA at last night’s meeting, questions were raised by opposing councillors on whether to support another lobby group.
Cr Mark Eckel, who initiated the motion, said he hoped the council would provide a letter of support to the NWRA and give the group permission to use the council’s logo in promotional material.
But Cr Glenn Milne was concerned about the council “endorsing” the lobby group and voted against the motion.
“It would be totally irresponsible to hand over our logo for people to use in their promotional material without some really good information behind whether they’re going to send us a letter that we agree to,” he said.
“You don’t just hand over council’s logo to anybody.
“The first point is to endorse the NorthWest Rail Alliance … I don’t know whether we need to endorse. To me, that points out we’re making it a pseudo-committee of council or something. You have to be very careful about what you endorse.”
Cr Greg Brown also voted against the motion and said adding another player to council’s rail advocacy was “not necessary”.
“As the transport portfolio councillor, I suggest for now, we do not create a fourth layer to duplicate what is currently happening,” he said.
Cr Eckel said councillors should see the importance of supporting a group with “fabulous passion”.
“It’s not adding another worrisome group into the mix, it’s none of those things. It’s standing up and advocating for passenger rail, it’s as simple as that,” he said.
“Passenger rail and advocacy for passenger rail unfortunately — and it’s really unfortunate when it happens in the council chamber — raises concerns about the advocacy for one of the most important issues in regards to this city and that is connection.”
Connectivity was a “priority” for the region, according to Cr Eckel, who said the council’s views already aligned with the NWRA.
“The disappointing nature in this debate for me is that you have 8000 signatures out there and a community that is really behind bringing the passenger rail back,” he said.
“When we talk advocacy, what we’re saying is that this particular group has no alignment on its own. It’s there to support freight rail … it’s there to support connectivity … the same as the passenger rail issue within our Future Ready (strategy).”
Mayor Simon Clemence cast his vote to support Cr Eckel, which carried the motion.
“We have already met with the NWRA and we’re working on that strategy and currently doing a transport study in the area to ascertain whether there is sufficient support on passenger rail,” he said.
“I don’t see anything wrong with us engaging with a community group that’s pushing the same agenda as we’re pushing and use of a logo on many, many community groups is a common thing.”
