ROADS NEED MAJOR UPGRADE
Sadly, the operation of the railways here on Eyre Peninsula ceased operation about four weeks ago.
The efficiency of this system is far superior to that of any other, in that massive amounts of goods can be safely moved to their destination at any one time, all on the one corridor, with no other traffic to contend with.
More than 100 years down the 'track' of having the rail system, despite all of our 'wisdom' and technological advances, we have a situation whereby the rail has all but ceased. Where is the sense in that?
Could it be that we, as a nation, have sold ourselves out to multinational investments who call the shots, even when it comes to our once owned and controlled infrastructure, which our forefathers busted themselves under harsh conditions to put in?
In this case, Viterra has made this decision to move all grain on EP via our already stressed road systems, rather than the rail system, which another foreign company owns and chose not to spend money on to upkeep. It no doubt comes down to the almighty dollar and their bottom line.
But where does this leave us, the Australian public? What about the human cost - let alone the financial cost - to upgrade and repair our roads? Who is going to pay for that?
To drive a motor vehicle from Rudall to Port Lincoln already has become a practical, logistical nightmare.
Getting stuck behind a road train and being unable to pass it safely at all is becoming all too common.
The increased safety risk and road damage issues because of increased heavy vehicles on our roads has become a huge concern, and it's not even harvest time yet.
Ideally, because of this situation, both the Lincoln Highway and Tod Highway - and probably parts of the Flinders Highway as well - should be dual lane highways, just for the sake of safety. Not to mention the chaos of trucks going through the main street of Port Lincoln.
But will we see that happen? I'm not so sure, certainly and sadly, not before someone has to pay for it - hopefully not with their life or lives.
The railway lines are left silent and unused, and what a shame and total waste that is.
As we go forward from here, we unfortunately have to endure the ever increasing madness on our roads.
Technological advancement and progression for the 21st century? I don't think so!
Finally and essentially, where is our government in all of this when we need them most? I hear a figure of $32 million for road improvements on EP being bandied about. Forgive my scepticism, but if and when we see any of that still remains to be seen. And how far would that go anyway?
It seems ironical that governments of both persuasions can spend millions on tram lines to the Festival Theatre and North Terrace in Adelaide, as well as a footbridge to the Adelaide Oval and at the same time fail to realise where their real bread and butter comes from.
EP, along with other country areas in SA, provides massive amounts of income to our state through agriculture, aquaculture, mining and tourism, to name but a few.
Surely we deserve to be given a fair go out here and not be treated like second class citizens, because we are not!
Stewart Forrest,
Rudall.
PRIVATISATION A MISTAKE
It was a sad day when the Eyre Peninsula railways came to a close.
The railways had served the EP well, for machinery, livestock, super and many other goods.
That was the biggest mistake that ever happened in 1975, when former Premier Don Dunstan sold the railways up.
Who owns the railways today?
