The word commonly used by authorities for the section of Rail Trail bisecting Bethania and Waterford Palm Lake Resorts and within proximity of the Palm Lake Age Care.
Yes, it is most definitely unique because nowhere else in Australia does a rail line bisect through two communities with homes only meters from the current rail line and within proximity of the Palm Lake Age Care and why we will keep asking for the Trail Rail to be diverted.
This has brought stress and distress to so many people (some 925 people), who in this stage of their life should be enjoying contentment in their final years and younger ones who want to grow old here.
As a member of the Rail Trail Diversion Group, I’m proud of the work our group is undertaking and to be a voice for many in our communities and Age Care residents with trying to protect our current “quiet and peaceful environment” lifestyle as placing a Rail Trail, Urban Bikeway, Crime Connector or whatever you want to call is terrifying with the criminal element that will most definitely use this open access from the Bethania Train Station through to Yarrabilba.
We recently had Attorney General and Member for Waterford Shannon Fentiman and Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey in attendance to hear our concerns and meet face to face with over 190 residents.
We had many others unable to attend due to failing health, mobility impairment, supporting partners at Palm Lake Age Care and our tireless volunteers providing valuable service in our local area.
The Minister’s, both gave us their assurances that all issues previously raised and new concerns will be discussed with Logan City Council, and may I say Minister Fentiman’s Waterford office staffers have provided the RTDG valuable time and resources which we greatly appreciate.
Sadly, even with the knowledge of Minister Fentiman and Minister Bailey would in attendance, our invitation to Mayor Darren Power was not replied to and he did not attend and Cr Laurie Koranski was unable to attend due to a commitment she could not move.
All requests forwarded to LCC to meet with us are met with “they are both committed to coming down to Palm Lake to meet with residents as soon as we have a draft design that we are able to share”.
So unfortunately for us the Logan City Council who are solely in charge of this project are unwilling to meet until the highly anticipated “Draft Design” is available.
This brings back bad memories of the “Have Your Say” with an attached map not even showing the PL Resorts or Age Care facility and only indicated us as a “Point of Interest”.
Did the public submitting their reply have any idea they would be cycling/walking through a gated community with homes less than 4 meters away from the current rail line and view into people’s front and back yards.
Mayor Darren Power these are some of the questions we seek answers to before “Draft Design” and would hope you can show some respect to our communities and at least meet with the members RTDG at your earliest convenience.
Why were the alternatives routes deemed unsuitable was it due to cost, as this route would still involve new bridge placement, fencing, security gates, security cameras, lighting, surrounding land / tree clearance, vegetation, landscaping listing just some of the requirements?
If the expected 55,000 yearly visitors’ come, what would be the forecasted budget for maintenance and upgrading over the lifetime of these instalments and will this figure be made available to all your voters?
Mayor Power, you stated on a radio interview back in October 2022 that teenagers and troublemakers won’t use the trail and you didn’t know of any crime problems being experienced on the Yarrabilba section but wasn’t sure as you hadn’t read any crime statistics and likened us to your other constituents that complain about having a new footpath in the street.
Do you have a different opinion now with the current Youth Crime Crisis facing Queenslanders every day or still think teenagers and troublemakers won’t come and do you have the crime statistics on the Yarrabilba section and have a better understanding from our Ministerial correspondence, petitions, resident’s letters that we want this section of Rail Trail diverted?
We have valid concerns with E-scooters many privately owned with modified speed limiters increasing top speeds of 90km/h resulting in recent deaths and serious injuries and users of Electric bicycles and Skateboards (children to and from local schools) will Qld Police have full accessibility entering the Rail Trail to monitor and enforce general road rules, for example: speeding, mobile phone, give way to pedestrians that apply to users of PMD’s.
What speed limits would apply if called a Rail Trail but looks like an Urban Bikeway: 12kph speed limits on footpaths and shared paths or 25kph speed limit maximum for all other bike paths and roads?
Your guiding philosophy of ‘the harder you work the luckier you get’ is a sweeping statement due to your decision that has put us in this situation.
Our people have worked hard all their lives, raised families, buried partners and some also battle serious health issues whilst living independently and enjoying the lifestyle, security, activities, and peaceful tranquillity which they all thoroughly deserve in their twilight years.
Lastly your goal as City of Logan Mayor is to ‘make it happen’ maybe you need to add ‘at whatever cost’.
Tracey Bertomeu – Member of the Rail Trail Diversion Group
