(1) For the purposes of this Act, a
"light rail system" is a system for the provision of light rail services along
a route declared under subsection (2), including tracks, catenaries, supports
for tracks and catenaries, stops, access to stops, signalling and other
control facilities, vehicles, vehicle depots and other facilities and
equipment associated with the provision of those services.
(2) The
regulations may declare a route along a road or through other land to be the
route of a light rail system. A route may be so declared--
(a) whether or not
a light rail service is operating along the route, and
(b) whether or not the
State or an authority of the State owns or proposes to acquire the system
providing the service.
(3) A regulation may not declare a route along a road
to be the route of a light rail system unless the regulation is made on the
recommendation of both the Minister administering this Act and the Minister
administering the Road Transport Act 2013 .
(4) A regulation may not declare
a route through any park or bushland to be the route of a light rail system
unless the regulation is made on the recommendation of both the Minister
administering this Act and the Minister for the Environment. In this
subsection--
"bushland" means land on which there is vegetation which is either a remainder
of the natural vegetation of the land or, if altered, is still representative
of the structure and floristics of the natural vegetation, being land that is
zoned or reserved for public open space purposes under an environmental
planning instrument.
"park" means an area of open space used for recreation (other than bushland),
being an area that is vested in or under the control of a public or local
authority.
(5) Any dispute in connection with the making of a recommendation
under subsection (3) or (4) may be determined by the Premier.
(6) In this
section--
"road" means a road or road related area within the meaning of section 4(1) of
the Road Transport Act 2013 (other than a road or road related area that is
the subject of a declaration made under section 18 (1)(b) of that Act relating
to all of the provisions of that Act).
