<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> The NSW Government is sticking by its guns and will close the heavy rail line between Wickham and Newcastle on Boxing Day, despite the local council changing its mind on the issue, and an expected recommendation from Federal Parliament to delay the truncation. </span> <p>State government wants to close the heavy rail line between Wickham and Newcastle so that it can start work on the development of a light rail network for Newcastle, which will feature a new transport interchange at Wickham.<br /><br />State premier Mike Baird says that every week the government’s plan is delayed will cost taxpayers $220,000.<br /><br />But the movement against the shuttering of the heavy rail line into Newcastle is growing, with Greens senator Lee Rhiannon successfully passing a motion through the Federal Senate to recommend that the decision be reversed, and the local Newcastle council – which has until now supported the state’s plans – changing its mind at the last minute.<br /><br />Newcastle City Council, and its new, Labor lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes, reversed its decision on the project on Tuesday last week, and said it would send an “urgent letter” to Premier Baird to notify him of the change.<br /><br />The shift is supported by Rhiannon, who said the Senate’s approval of her motion at the end of November to have the rail decision reversed sent a strong message to Baird.<br /><br />“The motion that went through the Senate sends a clear message to the New South Wales Coalition Government, not to pull up the rail line going into Newcastle,” she was quoted as saying by the ABC.<br /><br />“It’s true that there is no obligation on the NSW Government, but there is certainly support there for the community and it amplifies that voice of concern that we need to retain our rail line into Newcastle.<br /><br />“Some people might argue that what comes out of the Senate is symbolic, but to have the Australian Senate give backing to the Newcastle community that will be so disadvantaged if we lose the heavy rail into Newcastle.”<br /><br />Adding to the controversy is speculation that a parliamentary inquiry into planning decisions could also suggest the line truncation be delayed.<br /><br />The state inquiry, which is set to be finalised by March 5, 2015, could intervene with the planned Boxing Day closure as part of its interim findings, citing a flawed case for the project – most specifically its lack of a cost benefit analysis.</p>
