3801 Ltd Submission to Review of Tourism in NSW July 2007

31^st July 2007.

Mr. John O’Neill AO
Chair, Tourism New South Wales Review Task Force,
Department of Sate & Regional Development,
Level 49, MLC Centre, Martin Place,
Sydney, NSW 2000.

Dear Sir,

Submission, Review of Tourism New South Wales.

The Board of 3801 Limited makes this submission to your Review with the conviction that the South Eveleigh Precinct, Redfern offers unique rail heritage tourism opportunities for metropolitan Sydney. The centrepiece of this Precinct is the heritage listed Large Erecting Shop, a major component of the former State Rail Locomotive Workshops at Eveleigh.

3801 Limited has occupied the Large Erecting Shop since State Rail vacated it in 1986 and it has been ideal as our operating base as it was designed for the maintenance and restoration of railway rollingstock.

In 2006, the Board submitted the attached proposal requesting continuing occupation of the Large Erecting Shop to the Redfern Waterloo Authority (RWA) believing that we can add very significant value to the long-term goals of RWA. The retention of heritage rail activities at Eveleigh offers the following tourism benefits for Sydney: -

• Easy access of heritage trains to Sydney Station where rail based tourism can draw on the presence of local and overseas tourists to offer regular trips to regional New South Wales.
• 3801 Limited has the opportunity to operate twice weekly a heritage tourist train from Sydney to Robertson and Moss Vale via Stanwell Park and Wollongong accessing the remarkable rain forest and seascapes of the Illawarra. This service needs an immediate injection of new patronage.
• As the attached proposal states, 3801 Limited sees the opportunity to open the Large Erecting Shop at limited times for inspection by the public. The opportunity for the public to visit a working rail heritage workshop and see the nature of the traditional skills and tasks involved will be a popular tourist attraction based on overseas experience such as the National Railway Museum at York, England.
• Additionally in the RWA submission, 3801 Limited proposed the operation of short heritage rail trips from Eveleigh to Sydney Station and return on selected weekends to add to the tourism appeal of Sydney particularly for family groups.

The Board and staff are willing to meet with your Review Task Force or provide additional information that will assist you.

Yours sincerely,
John Glastonbury
(Chairman and General Manager)