Rail secrecy breeds suspicion
WHEN governments at all levels quote ‘commercial in confidence’ as a good enough reason for denying the right to know it’s fertile ground for suspicion that there’s something to hide.
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And it is suspicion on an industrial scale in the community with the NSW Government’s latest rejection of a freedom of information bid to release a ‘confidential’ report on work required in the 10 tunnels east of Lithgow to accommodate the new oversize inter urban trains on the Mountains Line.
The controversial trains are coming from factories in Korea as a cost saver but it’s a given that this program has been an ill planned fiasco from day one that has resulted in huge blowouts.
All sorts of inferences can be drawn from the government’s cloak of secrecy but Lithgow travellers and others further west must not be made the sacrificial lambs for public service bungling.
The ‘trust us’ assurances by Paul Toole are not good enough on such an important issue.
What’s in that file that must remain commercial in confidence, Minister?
The low down on Marjorie
FOR all you vocal doubters out there, Marjorie is already back at Cook Plaza. She made her return on Monday, May 21.
But no longer will the Lithgow Flash adorn the monumental perch her status deserves. In the new look Cook Plaza she’ll be standing in a knee high plinth.
Seems Council was concerned someone could be injured climbing onto the previous mounting (circa 2000) for photos with The Flash.
Oh dear, those careless tourists and the CBD’s most photographed feature.
Long overdue
IT’S taken months but finally someone has cleaned up the worst of the disgusting pigeon dropping at the Lithgow Tatts Hotel street level.
The collapsed underside of the hotel awning remains an eyesore but that’s nothing new for Main Street awnings.
Changed hands
STILL on Main Street and the good word is that the former Miranne Jewellery store has been sold to Sydney interests.
The neat shop with first floor flat closed last year after the sudden death of the long term business owner.