Statement from Bishop Bill Wright regarding the Herald report on Newcastle Railway Line
It has been reported today in various media that this Diocese has made a 'submission' to the NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure in support of 'truncating' the Newcastle Railway Line at Wickham. I make the following clarification.
The 'submission', consisting of five sentences, was written by Mr Boyd McCallum some six weeks ago in response to an invitation to comment on the urban renewal program. His email message carried the usual caveat that his views were 'not necessarily those of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle', but his brief text could well be read and understood as an official comment by the Diocese. It was not.
Mr McCallum does very good work for the Diocese in planning and property management, and he is undoubtedly enthusiastic about urban renewal in Newcastle. His view that this would best be achieved by closure of the railway is, however, simply his private opinion. It is regrettable that this was not made clear in Mr McCallum's brief statement on the matter.
Statement from Bishop Bill Wright,
Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle
Tuesday 30 April, 2013.
