LABOR MUST EXTEND 3801’s LEASE
UNTIL ELECTION
Shadow Minister for Transport
Gladys Berejiklian today demanded the lemma-Costa Labor Government extend the
operating lease for the 3801 steam locomotive to give voters a chance to save
this historic piece of living history.
“The lemma-Costa Labor
Government wants to sell-off 3801’s inner-city home to developers and take the
locomotive away from the largely volunteer organisation that has successfully
run operations for the last 20 years,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“3801 will be making its
final journey from Eveleigh today because their operating lease expires and the
lemma-Costa Government will not renew it,” she said.
“The NSW Liberal/Nationals
believes the current lease should be renewed so the historic 3801 steam
locomotive can continue operating.
“This is a popular heritage
tourist attraction that should be enjoyed by future generations.
The lemma-Costa Government’s
decision to redevelop 3801’s Eveleigh base for high-rise buildings, the failure
to renew the locomotive’s lease (expires on November 26), and the refusal to
stop plans for the disposal of its heritage carriages will see the service
driven off the rails.
A NSW Liberal/Nationals
Government would ensure RailCorp renews the existing lease and was prevented
from disposing of any of the rolling stock.
“Every effort must be made
to preserve this important piece of rail heritage as an operating train,”
Ms Berejiklian said.
“We firmly believe the
3801’s home, the Large Erecting Shop at Eveleigh, should be maintained for
heritage railway operations.
“The heritage significance
of the facility, built in the 1880’s, is recognised by the National Trust. It’s
a scandal that the Minister for Planning, who is also responsible for the
Heritage Office, is allowing its demolition.
“The volunteers and steam
enthusiasts who make up 3801 Limited have done a wonderful job of running and
maintaining the 3801 locomotive for the last 20 years, they should be allowed
to continue their good work.
“It would be a tragedy for
the 3801 to end up sitting idle in a museum after proving itself to be such a
popular and nostalgic living tourist attraction.
“The Government should
extend the lease until the state election in March to allow the people of NSW
to have a say in the future of their rail heritage,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Gladys Berejiklian MP
Shadow Minister for Transport
Shadow Minister for Waterways
Assistant Shadow Minister for
Citizenship
MEDIA RELEASE – 26 November 2006