Protest on over rail assets sale

Ren Lanzon | 28th November 2009

Railway workers and their families rally against the privatisation of public assets.

BILOELA residents are expected to join railway workers to protest Queensland Rail’s decision to sell rail assets, including the freighting service in the town.

QR workers fear job losses and residents are concerned the loss of the freighting service will put more heavy traffic on roads already in great need of maintenance.

Rail Tram and Bus Union organiser Craig Allen said QR plans to stop the train services in the area early next year was a bid to cut back expenses before its planned sale.

“But the flow-on effect will mean an extra 100 trucks a week on local roads,” he said.

The anti-asset sale protesters will rally at Melton Park at 10am today.

Mr Allen said research showed one railway freight wagon carried as much freight as three B-doubles and if QR went ahead with the sales convoys would chew up the local highways and roads.

“There will be increased transport costs for the local meatworks at Teys Brothers and also increased costs for local grain growers and seed producers,” he said.

“It will also mean our school buses will have to deal with more heavy traffic and have to negotiate roads that require more maintenance.

“It’s time for the state government to stop focusing on regaining its AAA credit rating and start worrying about the economic and social health of regional communities.”