Rail supporters from across the Hunter put their heads together in Newcastle yesterday determined not to let the state government cut the Hunter line at Wickham.
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An alliance of 16 groups met with Greens senator Lee Rhiannon and Mahreen Faruqi MLC in a meeting that lasted more than two hours.
“The fight is just starting,” Dr Faruqi said.
“It shows contempt for the community that [the state government] is prepared to cut the rail infrastructure between two major regional cities.”
Hunter Environmental Lobby president Jan Davis chaired the meeting where legal action and further protests were discussed.
“No one in the room was prepared to accept the government’s decision,” she said.
“Everyone present was prepared to do something.”
More than 60 people attended the meeting at Newcastle Trades Hall.
Save Our Rail, fourth coal terminal opponents T4 Group and the Hunter Business Alliance for Transport were among the groups represented.
“It was a very energetic meeting full of passion,” Senator Rhiannon said.
“[Cutting the line] is not about opening up the foreshore, it’s about making the land available to developers.”
Up coming protests will include the Rally for the Rail on Sunday from Pacific Park to Civic Park, Newcastle, which will start at 10.30am.
