Unfortunately, the answer is yes. No one knows the answers except the General Manager and the Mayor. The Armidale community has been, and continues to be, left in the dark.
Why, when Armidale is so blessed in having many bike trails, does the GM and the Mayor, think we need another one…at the expense of ALL those people north of us who have absolutely no means of public transport other than a ‘rail’ bus from Tenterfield to Armidale. where those folk’s only optioned is the slow train to Sydney?
Have our ‘Leaders’ decided that Climate Change is a furphy? Are they unaware that spot fires and floods are the result of global warming? An established rail line allows emergency teams to get to the action faster and help put out fires; helping people relocate to dry land, and freight to get to their destinations in a more timely manner.
Have they not seen, overseas, the enormous investment in trains? Of course it will cost money, but the savings to the government in the long term, are almost incalculable…a saving for the government when transporting patients to Sydney, which would be a saving to patients not having to stay for 2 days meaning less cost of taxis. Down and up in the one day…what a dream. An invaluable help for businesses that could set up in this region. High altitude training for athletes AND horses. A chance for Tourists to visit the region by train from either Sydney or Brisbane… particularly in time for the ‘32 Games.
I despair that our ‘leaders’ are encouraging selfishness instead of using good old-fashioned common sense.
I encourage everyone reading this to write to the Council, demanding answers…today.
Thank you,
Deni McKenzie
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The urban bike path through Armidale is in very poor condition in places. Yet Mayor Coupland seems uninterested in obtaining grant funding to upgrade it to the required standard that other councils have managed to achieve. A lot of residents use the path to cycle to their work place, place of study or to the shops. They have to endure the rough surfaces, unsafe intersections and dogs running unrestrained across the path. What is Mayor Coupland’s real agenda regarding the urban bike path and the proposed rail trail he is actively campaigning for?
Different day but same nonsense and propaganda from one the few train supporters. The article is peppered with half truths and incorrect statements. Time to move on.