Council representatives, rail advocates and business operators gathered for the launch of the Rail Revival report, presented by the five mayors of Blayney, Cowra, Harden, Young and Weddin shires.

Cowra Shire Mayor Bill West stressed at the launch any move to reopen the line had to be backed by commercial viability.

Evidence of potential viability was presented in the 70 odd page report, with Blayney Mayor Bruce Kingham outlining just one example,

Cr Kingham explained Cadia Valley Operations– the world’s fourth largest gold mine – would certainly consider sending the containers of slurry it currently sends to Port Kembla for overseas export via a longer but potentially more economical Cowra line network.

“These are very long, very heavy, very slow trains, that find it hard going up over the Blue Mountains and the flatter Cowra option would give Cadia Valley an alternative route,” he said.

“They would get to Port Kembla in a shorter time frame, because the trains wouldn’t have to go through the Sydney Rail Network [where they have to wait for passenger trains],” Cr Kingham told the crowd.

Sandy Morrison, Central West Regional Development, commended the councils for pursuing the report, saying it would have the backing of his board.

He agreed with the importance of freight haulage for industries such as mining.

“There are 25 mines coming on line in the region and all will be needing to export dirt overseas,” he said.

“From mining alone, there will be a huge increase in containers.”

The five councils believe the report “clearly establishes a solid case for the re-opening of the line”.

The mood at the launch was clearly positive, although realistic, summarised Weddin Mayor Maurice Simpson.

He pointed out the Minster had given discussed the five council meeting on national media for quite some time, which he described as “brilliant”.

“$15,000 is only a very small amount of money, but it is a start.”

Bill Barwood, well known rail advocate and Canowindra resident, told the crowd the report validated Lachlan Regional transport Committee’s decade long fight for rail.