More NSW transport heads roll off Costa’s block

<p>New South Wales transport minister Michael Costa’s purge of transport bureaucracy has continued, with another two executives forced to walk the plank.</p> <p>In sweeping changes, Mr Costa announced last week that State Rail CEO Howard Lacy and Rail Infrastructure Corporation CEO John Cowling have been asked to "look towards alternate courses of employment".</p> <p>Their removal follows last week’s sacking of former Transport NSW director general Michael Deegan.</p> <p>Gary Seabury will become acting RIC chief and former National Rail boss Vince Graham will head State Rail.</p> <p>Mr Costa has also called former rail supremo Ron Christie out of retirement to help with the creation of a new transport safety and reliability regulator.</p> <p>The regulator will have the authority to investigate transport accidents, set safety and performance standards and conduct safety and performance audits and will report directly to the minister.</p> <p>It should be fully operational by January 1, 2004.</p> <p>Mr Costa has dismissed calls for the regulator to report direct to Parliament, saying that he as minister is responsible and accountable to Parliament. </p> <br />