31st
July 2007.
Mr. John O’Neill AO
Chair, Tourism New South
Wales Review Task Force,
Department of Sate & Regional Development,
Level 49, MLC Centre, Martin Place,
Sydney, NSW 2000.
Dear Sir,
Submission, Review of Tourism New South Wales.
The Board of 3801 Limited makes this submission
to your Review with the conviction that the South Eveleigh Precinct, Redfern
offers unique rail heritage tourism opportunities for metropolitan Sydney. The centrepiece
of this Precinct is the heritage listed Large Erecting Shop, a major component
of the former State Rail Locomotive Workshops at Eveleigh.
3801 Limited has occupied the Large Erecting
Shop since State Rail vacated it in 1986 and it has been ideal as our operating
base as it was designed for the maintenance and restoration of railway
rollingstock.
In 2006, the Board submitted the attached
proposal requesting continuing occupation of the Large Erecting Shop to the
Redfern Waterloo Authority (RWA) believing that we can add very significant
value to the long-term goals of RWA. The retention of heritage rail activities
at Eveleigh offers the following tourism benefits for Sydney: –
-
Easy
access of heritage trains to Sydney Station where rail based tourism can draw
on the presence of local and overseas tourists to offer regular trips to
regional New South Wales. -
3801
Limited has the opportunity to operate twice weekly a heritage tourist train
from Sydney to Robertson and Moss Vale via Stanwell Park
and Wollongong
accessing the remarkable rain forest and seascapes of the Illawarra. This
service needs an immediate injection of new patronage. -
As
the attached proposal states, 3801 Limited sees the opportunity to open the Large
Erecting Shop at limited times for inspection by the public. The opportunity
for the public to visit a working rail heritage workshop and see the nature of
the traditional skills and tasks involved will be a popular tourist attraction
based on overseas experience such as the National
Railway Museum
at York, England. -
Additionally
in the RWA submission, 3801 Limited proposed the operation of short heritage
rail trips from Eveleigh to Sydney Station and return on selected weekends to
add to the tourism appeal of Sydney
particularly for family groups.
The Board and staff are willing to meet with
your Review Task Force or provide additional information that will assist you.
Yours sincerely,
John Glastonbury
(Chairman and General Manager)