Kelly
10-09-2009, 10:10 AM
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union says one rail freight centre must stay open in Queensland's north-west, despite plans for its closure at the end of the month.
Queensland Rail has proposed shutting the rail depots between Charters Towers and Cloncurry, but the union's state senior vice president, Les Moffit, says the Julia Creek centre must stay open.
He says 50,000 head of livestock are transported out of that depot each year.
"We feel it's justified for them to keep the small freight terminal instead of giving it to an agency," he says.
"That'd be the most efficient way. Other than that, they're talking about using employees from Cloncurry, which means extensive travelling.
"And it'll just add costs onto the livestock industry, which is costing $25 million a year already."
SOURCE: ABC Online (http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/200909/s2680899.htm)
Queensland Rail has proposed shutting the rail depots between Charters Towers and Cloncurry, but the union's state senior vice president, Les Moffit, says the Julia Creek centre must stay open.
He says 50,000 head of livestock are transported out of that depot each year.
"We feel it's justified for them to keep the small freight terminal instead of giving it to an agency," he says.
"That'd be the most efficient way. Other than that, they're talking about using employees from Cloncurry, which means extensive travelling.
"And it'll just add costs onto the livestock industry, which is costing $25 million a year already."
SOURCE: ABC Online (http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/200909/s2680899.htm)