News that a new coal truck route is being planned and has largely been approved by Spoornet and the Transport Department is good news for residents, business and the economy. Our area relies heavily on Forbes Coal for jobs and the mine contributes heavily to the local economy.

But the having coal trucks trundling through residential areas and now in the CBD has become intolerable.  Obviously something needed to be done to make it a win-win situation.  Now that a new, private road will take the trucks away from residential roads is a blessing.

The only strange factor to this whole saga is that Forbes Coal must pay for the entire project.  The Transport Department and other Government Departments have placed responsibility firmly on the private sector.  This is surely not in keeping to stated Government policy of job creation and creating an atmosphere where business thrives.

Coal mines must mine.  Government should build the infrastructure to allow that.  That’s why pay taxes.