While Dubbo has been declared the preferred location for a massive new rail maintenance hub in NSW, Member for Cootamundra Katrina Hodgkinson is calling for it to be built in Cootamundra or Junee.
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In a landmark announcement, the NSW Government has revealed it will replace its entire regional train fleet and establish a maintenance hub in a regional location.
Less than 24 hours after the announcement earlier this week, Ms Hodgkinson had already made representations to NSW Minister for Transport Andrew Constance, urging him to strongly consider Cootamundra and Junee as potential sites for the hub.
“Rail history runs deep in the DNA of both towns,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
She justified her call by the fact both towns lie almost half way between Sydney and Melbourne on the main rail line and have significant existing rail infrastructure
“Both towns have an extremely strong case,” she said. “And I would hope they are closely looked at by the government,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
She said a maintenance hub in Cootamundra would provide a welcome injection of jobs and confidence.
Former rail worker and Cootamundra resident Jim Galloway said he can see the benefits of such a facility in town.
“A regional depot would be exactly what Cootamundra wants to put the town back on the map,” Mr Galloway said.
“A lot of former railway people would be only too happy to see Cootamundra known as a rail destination once again,” he continued.
He encouraged local groups such as Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council and the Cootamundra Development Corporation to join the state member in backing the building of the hub in Cootamundra.
“Anyone who wants to push Cootamundra forward needs to be right behind this,” Mr Galloway said.
