VIEW ORIGINAL TEXT BY CHRIS ROE, REGION RIVERINA
As a councillor dedicated to serving Wagga’s community, I want to keep you updated on a recent development concerning the Inland Rail project and its impact on our city. This week, we experienced an unexpected twist in our ongoing efforts to address the concerns of Wagga’s ratepayers.
Today, just hours before a scheduled community information session at Wagga Library, the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) announced they were cancelling the event. This came as quite a shock to many of us who were looking forward to discussing the Albury to Ilabo (A2I) Preferred Infrastructure Report (PIR) and its implications for our community.
The ARTC cited potential protest activity as the reason for postponing the session. In their media release, they mentioned, “We have become aware of potential protest activity at the Wagga Wagga drop-in session so are postponing the event to allow us to make appropriate arrangements for a rescheduled event, including a revised location to ensure a safe environment for all those attending and to minimise disruption for the local community.”
While the ARTC representative confirmed that the drop-in session scheduled for Junee’s Athenium Theatre would proceed as planned, the Wagga meeting has been rescheduled for next Tuesday, 28 November, at the Wagga Showground.
As the representative of the Wagga Residents & Ratepayers Association, Chris Roche expressed surprise at the news of a protest, noting that while they had been encouraging people to attend, no formal protest had been organized. He remarked, “We haven’t organised anything, the only thing I’ve heard of was that someone recommended people put red ribbons on their car aerials. I guess red ribbons must be very scary!”
In response to the postponement, a small gathering did take place today outside Wagga’s Council Chambers. Alongside Chris Roche and members of the Wagga Ratepayers, we spoke to the media to express our frustration with ARTC’s decision. This constant ducking and weaving by ARTC is disappointing. They seem unwilling to face the music. Our community doesn’t want a simple drop-in forum; we want a proper question-and-answer session where we can directly address our concerns and get answers in a public forum.
ARTC’s environment manager, Wayne Window, clarified that the community information sessions were not intended to be a forum for debate. However, the need for an open and honest dialogue remains critical.
At the Wagga Library, a small group of ARTC staff and security were present to inform anyone who missed the cancellation notice. I found this situation appalling. It’s concerning that ARTC felt the need to have security guards on hand because they were worried about elderly ratepayers. This situation highlights the escalating political “brawl” we are now engaged in to get the answers and actions our community deserves.
This issue goes beyond complaints and public meetings. We are now in a political fight to ensure that Wagga’s interests are protected and that our voices are heard.
Interestingly, a letter to the editor published in Wagga’s The Daily Advertiser on Wednesday (22 November) called for a blockade of the line and the office of Mr. McCormack. This extreme suggestion did not sit well with our Federal Member for the Riverina. Michael McCormack described the letter as “next-level stupid and next-level irresponsible,” emphasizing the danger it posed to passengers using the XPT between Melbourne and Sydney.
While we continue to navigate these challenges, I remain committed to fighting for the best outcomes for Wagga. I will keep you updated on any further developments and the rescheduled meeting. Your support and engagement are crucial as we strive to make Wagga a better place for everyone.
Stay tuned for more updates, and thank you for your continued support.
