Barossa Tourist Train Taskforce met at the Tanunda Club on February 15; standing was Rod Hook (left), Bob Sampson OAM and Ivan Venning. Seated was Gawler Mayor Karen Redman (left), Taskforce Chair Tony Piccolo MP and Marie-Louise Lees from the Southern Barossa Alliance. (Absent: Mayor Bim Lange OAM, Rolf Binder, Peter Joy and Jon Durdin). PHOTO: Supplied
A LAW has been introduced into State Parliament to protect the Barossa Rail Track and corridor from being dug up further to help keep the dream of a tourist train return alive.
Taskforce chair and Duty Member for Schubert Tony Piccolo, introduced a bill on Wednesday based on the work of the Barossa Tourist Train Taskforce, which met again on February 15 in Tanunda.
Speaking in State Parliament, Mr Piccolo called on the State Government to support this important law to protect the rail corridor between Gawler and Angaston, to enable in the future commencement of a Barossa tourism train service.
“As a result of my work in the Barossa in recent months, it has become clear that there is some support amongst the business sector and the community to explore the feasibility of reintroducing some sort of tourism train service,” he said.
“The ‘Statutes Amendment (Barossa Rail Corridor) Bill 2021’ does three things. It restricts the government from selling off any part of the rail corridor to any third parties.
“Secondly, it defines what the corridor is, and the final part addresses the issue of any development along the corridor, which under the proposed law, would require the consent of parliament.”
This bill is designed as a holding mechanism so that until a full feasibility study is undertaken and a final decision is made as to whether a tourist train service is viable or not, then the line and the corridor should remain intact.
“The bill would stop any Kromer’s Crossing style of vandalism from being undertaken by the Marshall Liberal Government,” Mr Piccolo said.
The Barossa Tourist Train Taskforce met on Monday night and has prepared a draft document that could become a basis for a project brief to undertake a feasibility study.
“We are working on a pre-feasibility study,” Mr Piccolo said.
“I hope this work of local people who make up the taskforce will inform a full feasibility that can be accepted by the community and the business sector.”
Last year, the SA Labor opposition committed to funding a thorough feasibility study if it forms government at the 2022 election.
The government will now have an opportunity to debate the bill in parliament.
“I strongly encourage the Marshall Liberal Government to support this bill,” Mr Piccolo said.
