The West Coast Wilderness Railway will close in April.
STAKEHOLDERS expecting to hear a decision on the West Coast Wilderness Railway yesterday say they are frustrated by a lack of federal government action.
``Time is moving on,'' Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said.
``The current decision is: do we want the railway to survive or not?
``I would think that, given the $10 million a year it is worth to the Queenstown economy, that is a clear economic argument.''
The tourism council, West Coast Council and other stakeholders were updated on the discussions with the federal government by state Infrastructure Minister David O'Byrne's office yesterday.
Mr Martin said he was disappointed that the federal government had not yet said whether it would commit the $5.8 million needed for urgent repairs to the heritage railway, without which it could not remain in operation.
He said the railway risked losing specialised engineering staff unless it was given a certain future.
Mr O'Bryne said he was not going to speculate on discussions with the federal government.
``We know that time is of the essence, and that's why we are working extremely hard to resolve the questions in our mind, and also to work through the potential options moving forward,'' Mr O'Bryne said.
``But given the budget circumstances of both the federal and state governments . . . it is important we do that work first before we commit significant funds.
``We need to know that if we do make that decision it's the right decision and that we are not back here in six or 12 months asking the same questions.''
Liberal Braddon MHA Adam Brooks said the government would ``kill the railway through indecision''.
``At a public meeting 13 days ago, Infrastructure Minister David O'Byrne said the government would have a plan in days, not weeks,'' Mr Brooks said.