On Wednesday at 1.30pm the station entrance became a stage for a community conversation about the NSW TrainLink review of regional services and noteably absent was member for Myall Lakes, Stephen Bromhead. His decision to not attend the meeting to give voice to the NSW government position and process and to hear community concerns was broadly criticised.

In recent weeks the community has learned NSW TrainLink is proposing staff at Taree will only be available to assist customers from 9.30am to 9.30pm; it is currently staffed from 7.30am to 2am. Also on the table for consideration is a staff restructuring proposal that could see three of the six staff have their grades cut and one role expanded to become an area customer service manager position, in effect removing one staff member from customer service at Taree, according to Rail, Train and Bus Union representative, Alex Claassens.

"Stephen Bromhead is letting his Liberal Party bosses tell him that they are ripping away jobs and services from his electorate and when questioned about it he said, 'oh we don't know what the union is complaining about, there are six jobs there today and there will be six jobs there tomorrow' but he obviously hasn't looked at the detail," Mr Claassens said.

"I say to him, shame on you, you've been elected to represent the people of this area, you should do your homework and get out there and talk to the people.

"The disappointing thing in all of this is that despite me personally writing to all the National Party MPs some months ago asking them to protect local jobs and services, we didn't even get the courtesy of a response."

Former Greater Taree City Council deputy mayor Wendy McKeough OAM took the microphone to give voice to the need for staff to ensure public safety.

"There have been bashings on the station and the police have had to be called. Just recently there were two bashings and one was a male passenger. The staff have told me that they have had to call the police on average three times a week over a 12 month period.

"Taking staff from here at night will affect public safety. When we get older we need the trains. We are all going to get older, if we live long enough, and we are going to need the train services; it's terribly important to Taree that we don't lose them.

"My late husband worked on the rail and I've seen all the things that have gone and we have to fight if we want to keep it. I'll never forget the railway slogan from many years ago, the railway is the safe way."

Mrs McKeough expressed disappointment at Mr Bromhead's decision to not attend. She rejected his public comments that he was not invited to attend.

"I telephoned his office the day before to ensure that he knew the day, time and place of the meeting and his staff said to me, 'oh we are well aware of it because of the Manning River Times'.

"I will also say that you don't need an invitation to a public meeting. Julie Lyford didn't receive an invitation and she travelled from Gloucester. So that excuse from Mr Bromhead doesn't hold water with me."

Greater Taree City Council deputy mayor Alan Tickle expressed the opinion "we do have to make it political".

"It's bad enough when we lose employment in the private sector but it's pretty tough when you feel like you are being deserted and employment is threatened in the public sector," Cr Tickle said.

"We have seen services shifted from the hospital, there's rumours rife that perhaps National Parks and Wildlife will go to Port Macquarie. It is incumbent on us to ask the local member, do you know what government departments are here? do you know how they will be affected in the future? and what guarantee are you going to give and how hard are you going to work to keep jobs in this area as well as keep this train station?"

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ainslee.dennis@fairfaxmedia.com.au