THE Tarana Valley Community Group welcomes the recent announcement by Bathurst MP, Paul Toole, that the Bathurst Bullet will stop at Tarana beginning later this year.
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Local support for stopping the Bullet at Tarana is strong, as it provides residents of the Tarana Valley as well as approximately 5500 residents of Oberon Council with closer access to a station.
Mayor of Oberon, Kathy Sajowitz, at a community meeting in Tarana earlier this year, said that there was a possibility of a bus link from Oberon to Tarana. Oberon is currently serviced by a bus to Mount Victoria, 60 kilometres and one hour away.
This is great news for residents of Tarana and Oberon who can now hop on a train at Tarana rather than travelling to Lithgow or Mount Victoria.
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We really want both services to stop at Tarana. Why just one? The more options available for travellers the better. Arriving at Central after 11am and leaving to return at 3pm doesn't leave much time in the city.
Monika Perry, a long-time Tarana resident who regularly visits her sick mother in a Sydney hospital, says it's impossible for her to get there and back by public transport in a day.
Having both Bathurst Bullet train services stop in Tarana would make a world of difference to her life.
Now that the Bullet will stop at Tarana, our group will continue to advocate for action to enhance Tarana village and improve local roads linking to the station. Tarana has a beautiful, heritage-listed station precinct that could be restored to its former days as a hub of community activity.
Our group has already had a working bee to clear up some neglected land close to the station which could be used for a picnic and children's play area. Our group has met with Sydney Trains culture and heritage manager, Andrew Killingsworth, who is supportive of returning the station buildings to community use and a long-term plan is exploring options.
Nigel Bell of ECOdesign Architects in Katoomba, who has been assisting the Tarana community develop an overall plan for the village, sees the Bullet train stop as a very positive first step in adding life to the old station.
This outcome shows that our elected representatives can respond to lobbying from the community when we speak with a clear and unified voice. It is the aim of the Tarana Valley Community Group to act as a vehicle for the changes that are important to the residents of our area.
