During the discussion on the closure of the Moree-Weemelah rail line at the Moree Plains Shire Council meeting on Thursday, the council decided to convene communication with other bulk grain producing councils with a view to specific funding for grain roads/routes across Australia.

The rail line closure will result in more heavy vehicles transporting grain onto our already struggling road network.

Councillor John Tramby lead the discussion by saying the council needed funding to handle the increased road usage.

“I think we should push for grain roads. We can’t sit here and do nothing. We need to give something to the government in strategic terms for funding,” Cr Tramby said.

Cr Mike Montgomery shared Cr Tramby’s sentiments.

“I really like the idea, it has great merit. I think it can get a lot of steam from councils like us,” Cr Montgomery said.

“I think we as a council would be in a position to convene a bulk grains council meeting like we did with the roads congress,” he said.

Deputy Mayor Sue Price also supported the concept.

“The traffic on our roads are going to become increasingly great in our area,” Cr Price said.

Councillors Peter Strang, Rodney Brazel and Claudia Gall also liked the idea.

“The idea of a summit is a good one,” Cr Strang said.

“I think you should go out with all guns blazing, get A Current Affair up here. I think you should go out on the airways,” Cr Brazel said.

“At the end of the day, it will make our roads disgraceful,” he said.

“The closure of rail for grain is a major issue,” Cr Gall said.

She believed this campaign would be a huge success because there were plenty of other councils in the same boat.