Rail Heritage Australia (NSW) Inc Representing Rail Heritage Organisations in NSW Correspondence to: The Secretary, PO Box 152 www.rha -nsw.org.au West Pennant Hills NSW 2125 Email: secretary@rha -nsw.org.au Newsletter – March 2013 IN THIS ISSUE Patron The Hon Tim Fischer • Review of Rail Heritage by Transport for NSW. RHA (NSW) – Member groups • Petition to Premier and Minister for 3801 Limited Binnaway Rail Heritage and Preservation Group Inc Transport to take action on rail heritage. Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum Ltd • RHA (NSW) Annual General Meeting held Goulburn Crookwell Heritage Railway Inc on 8 December 2012. Deferral of Members’ Goulburn Loco Roundhouse Preservation Society Inc Forum. Hunter Valley Training Company Pty Ltd • Heritage Council – Removal of some rail Illawarra Light Railway Museum Society Ltd items from the State Heritage Register Lachlan Valley Railway Society Co-op Ltd • New England Railway Inc RailCorp - Restructure into Sydney Trains NSW Rail Motor & Rollingstock Preservation Assn Inc and NSW Trains from 1 July 2013. NSW Steam Preservation Co-op Society Ltd • Zig Zag Railway – Plans to recommence Oberon Tarana Heritage Railway Inc Operations. Pacific Coast Railway Society Inc Regional Heritage Transport Association – Junee Inc • ATHRA Board Meeting March 2013 (incorporating Tumba Rail) • Robertson Railway Station – 80 th Richmond Vale Preservation Co-operative Society Ltd Anniversary Celebrations. Robertson Heritage Railway Station Inc CELEBRATIONS Rothbury Riot Railway and Steam Museum Group Ltd South Pacific Electric Railway Co-op Soc Ltd Steam Tram and Railway Preservation (Co-op) Soc Ltd eview of Rail Heritage by Transport, Signal and Communications Museum Inc Transport for NSW. In the last Tweed Rail Society Inc two Newsletters it was reported that Zig Zag Railway Co-op Ltd R Transport for NSW was carrying out a major review of rail heritage in NSW. This Committee of Management began in September 2011 when the Minister Dr John Glastonbury President for Transport announced that the Director- Sam Burgess Vice President General of Transport would conduct a review Bill Pascoe Secretary/Treasurer of the future management of rail heritage Tony Healey (Lachlan Valley Railway assets. Society Co-op Ltd) Ian Saxon (South Pacific Electric Railway In December 2011, Transport for NSW advised Co-op Society Ltd) that it was undertaking a review to formulate Darcy Reid (Goulburn Crookwell Heritage an approach for the future management of the Railway Inc) State’s rail heritage assets and that it intended Ian Wallace (Robertson Heritage Railway to consult comprehensively with the broader Station Inc) rail heritage community as part of the review. In February 2012 Transport for NSW advised that it had engaged Ms Patricia Azarias, Head of Internal Audit, Premiers Department, who has extensive experience reviewing and Page 1 auditing Government processes to Chair the heritage movement across NSW would have Inquiry. representation on the Board. In addition, two rail heritage experts, Lord To safeguard the interests of the Government, Richard Faulkner and Mr Andrew Scott from it was proposed that Government would hold the United Kingdom were engaged as members the reserve power to appoint a maximum of of the Inquiry. Both have had extensive four additional board members, if that became experience in the management of rail heritage necessary at some future time (modelling the matters and both visited Sydney in February successful and proven Puffing Billy structure). 2012 to participate in the Inquiry. Advice was received that the final report by Ms The Inquiry sought submissions from rail Azarias had been submitted to Transport for heritage organisations, met with representatives NSW. RHA (NSW) contacted the Minister for of key organisations and made a number of site Transport to suggest that the matter had visits. Representatives of RHA (NSW) met urgency, particularly in light of the cessation of with Ms Azarias on 22 March 2012 where an operations by Zig Zag Railway and difficulties outline of the makeup and nature of the rail being faced by other rail heritage groups. The heritage movement in NSW and some of the holding of the Inquiry had raised the many problems being facing were presented. expectations of the sector with the hope that Discussions were held on possible structures soon a Way Forward could be planned. for a new, independent body to be responsible RHA (NSW) has met with relevant executives for rail heritage in NSW. in Transport for NSW to try to ascertain the Details were also provided to Ms Azarias of a status of the current review but no positive similar review of rail heritage in 2004/5 which information has been obtained. had recommended the establishment of an It is hoped that there will be sufficient interest independent body to take responsibility for rail shown by Government in the future potential of heritage. However, the then Government, rail heritage in this state for the instead, approved of the establishment of a recommendations to be adopted. heritage section within RailCorp, the Office of Rail Heritage. As that body only took responsibility for RailCorp heritage assets, etition to save rail heritage in including those under custodial management arrangements with some rail heritage groups, NSW. All member groups would there was no interaction with other rail heritage P now be aware that RHA (NSW) has groups as proposed by the review. In all, it participated in raising an on-line was considered that there were many petition through the community group shortcomings in the outcomes from that Community Run to expedite action on the review. One positive action was the restoration review of rail heritage referred to above. of the old interstate booking office on Central The petition is to the Premier and the Minister Station, part of which is now occupied by the for Transport and has the theme “Save Steam, ARHA (NSW) bookshop. Save Heritage Rail”. In the current review, RHA (NSW) supported To date, over 2,200 people have signed support the concept that a new body should be for the petition. It is not too late to add your established to take responsibility for rail name to the supports list. heritage matters in NSW. A Trust or other The petition can be accessed through the independent incorporated organisation was following link: favoured, similar to the proposals in 2004/5. http://www.communityrun.org/petitions/save- RHA (NSW) proposed that the new steam-save-heritage-rail organisation would have a Board whose members were nominated by RailCorp, NSW Member groups and their supporters, families, Heritage Office, NSW Rail Transport Museum, friends and community contacts are 3801 Limited and RHA (NSW). In this way, encouraged to log onto the website and record the vast majority of the volunteers in the rail their vote. Page 2 The wording of the petition is: However, the Ministers’ office advised that she Dear Premier & Minister, would be unable to attend on a Saturday in any of those months so, consequently, the Operational heritage rail in NSW has been in Members’ Forum had to be deferred to some continuous decline over the last 10 years and is now in a dangerously perilous state. Urgent action time in 2013 on a date suitable to the Minister is required if we are to preserve our rich rail for Transport or some Minister. heritage for future generations to experience and The stand-alone Annual General Meeting was enjoy. held on Saturday 8 December 2012 at the Since the NSW Office of Rail Heritage took over Castlereagh Club, 199 Castlereagh Street, management of the sector and the State’s precious Sydney. The club generously provided a operational heritage rail assets 6 years ago, there has been a drastic decline in heritage rail meeting room for the meeting. experience opportunities for the general The elections for Committee Members held at community, despite the efforts of thousands of the Annual General Meeting resulted in no volunteers and supporters. There are now almost change to the existing Committee make up. no operating steam engines in NSW and little progress is being made in restoring engines that The President’s report to member groups, could become operational. The restoration of much circulated prior to the meeting covered the loved iconic steam engine 3801 has been on hold following matters: for years pending the outcome of an unnecessary and costly legal dispute with no real prospect of • NSW Government review of Rail resolution; steam locomotives 3265 and 3830 are Heritage. available only for the exclusive use of Government and are rarely available to the public; and a number • Petition on rail heritage to the Premier of regionally important private rail heritage and Minister for Transport. operations are in financial difficulties, such as Zig Zag Railway and Timbertown Heritage Railway. • National Rail Safety Regulator A new strategic direction is urgently needed for rail • Activities of the Association of Tourist heritage in NSW, a need recognised by Minister Berejiklian in establishing the Azarias enquiry into and Heritage Rail, Australia (ATHRA). the management and future of the NSW Rail • Competency and Assessment of Rail Heritage sector. The Azarias Report was delivered to Transport for NSW in March 2012, but since then Heritage Operators. has been stalled by the NSW Office of Rail • New and resigned member groups. Heritage and Transport for NSW bureaucracy despite numerous requests for it to be released to The Finance Report and accompanying audited the public. annual accounts which had been circulated to The NSW rail heritage sector is now in dire straits, member groups prior to the meeting showed and is in limbo awaiting clarity regarding the future the finances of RHA (NSW) were in a sound management of the sector. Unless a viable new state. public/private co-operative management structure is put into the place now operational NSW Rail Heritage is in grave danger.