In answer to ‘Name withheld’ in this newspaper dated March 28, 2023.
Firstly, my name is Verne Charlesworth and I am a member of the Rail Trail Diversion Group in Palm Lake Resort, Bethania.
This group (or small minority), represents some 900+ residents, not overly affluent, of one of the oldest and least ‘up market’ of the many PLRs dotted around Australia.
This number constitutes some 18% of the total residents in the suburb of Bethania. Perhaps not such a ‘minority’ after all. We have a unanimous mandate from the residents to fight to get the RT diverted. This is the will of the people –democracy in other words.
We readily concede that:
The rail corridor is Crown Land
The Government can do what it wants with it within the law (which protects democracy)
Agents selling properties within PLR HAVE NOT advised buyers of the RT proposal even up to the last few weeks.
As for those that actually live here and understand the difficulties that the RT will bring, these are the following issues;
Residents cross between the 2 villages daily to access facilities, friends and family members. 2 villages – one community.
Fences and gates by their very presence make trans-village crossing more difficult.
Some residents are a mere few metres from the RT. Would you like a huge painted fence bordering your back yard?
It will eliminate the Community Garden (although with some ‘edible native plants’ we could harvest Midyim berries and Native sage)
Our 2 ‘short cuts’ are paved pedestrian walkways – without fences on them.
Let’s also be clear about another fundamental fact – not one of our residents has ever voted against the concept of a Rail Trail per se. They simply don’t want it bisecting their community.
The simple fact is our residents sold their homes in suburbia after a lifetime of work, raising families, paying taxes and in many cases, serving their country to buy into a GATED COMMUNITY.
We know that most people using the RT would do the right thing. We also know that 98% of the legislation is there to control 2% of the population (the 2% that fill the evening news). To say crime won’t/doesn’t happen is magical, Polyanna thinking.
Council also estimates some $840,000 p.a. in economic benefits coming from this section of RT. There are no shops in PLR, but there are on High Rd.
Land resumptions (the details of which we are yet to see) may impact Canterbury College. Students from that College would be the major beneficiaries of the RT. To/from school, Bethania Station along High Rd. High Rd is also accessible to Police and Emergency vehicles. The RT with preventative bollards would not be. I am certain the businesses on High Rd would welcome more custom.
Also, PLR already suffers theft vandalism and attempted break-ins. Do you honestly believe that more people on the RT will reduce such crime? Really?
It is simply, on balance a more common sense (an endangered species I know) approach to go around for economic, social and financial reasons. Incidentally the proposal to divert has never been seriously considered by LCC.
Consider also, that going around would have little or no effect on daily users, but going through would affect 476 homes and an Aged Care facility DAILY – 24/7.
So from our perspective as a ‘minority’, you could call diversion the ‘path of least resistance’.
It seems funny sometimes how people who don’t live here always seem to know what’s best for us.
Verne Charlesworth
Vice Chair
Rail Trail Diversion Group (representing the opinions of some 70,000 years of life experience).
