Editorial: Community Confusion Continues

IT’s easy to throw mud at the Roads and Maritime Services for the indecision around the overpass, but perhaps the fault lies closer to home?

When writing the story Overpass in Limbo it was clear there is no consensus in the community for where the overpass should go, Cr Watts asserted Council has always wanted it at Elizabeth Park, Mayor Bedggood supports Council’s official position, but has also stated he doesn’t want to see the Park impacted and likes the option at the saleyards.

Elizabeth Flaherty, editor.

Ben Wyndham said the current Chamber committee supports Council’s proposal to have a rail overpass near the saleyards, but also voted to support the Council’s official position of it being at Elizabeth Park and there are others in the community who question if we need one at all.

Some emergency services want the overpass in town, other emergency services say they won’t need one in town if the bypass goes ahead.

Cr Abbott along with many in our community oppose the bypass, yet the Council’s position is to support the bypass.

Council’s official position may have remained the overpass at Kelly Street near Elizabeth Park and to support the bypass, but there has been no clear leadership on the issue, with red herrings like the saleyard overpass being thrown in masquerading as yet another ‘option’, when the RMS already had three options.

The compromise of a bypass plus a rail overpass was struck if there was enough in the budget for both and at one stage there was, but the longer the indecision drags on the more the cost of the overall project will increase and the less chance there is of an overpass becoming a reality.

The role of the RMS is to plan and build infrastructure, not to lead our community to reach a consensus.

The role of the RMS is also not a political one, they are not there to lobby state and federal governments for funding.

The role of community leadership and reaching local community consensus rests with those we have elected in local government.

The role of lobbying state and federal government for funding for our community also rests with local government.

So perhaps Cr Watts is correct and it is time for the State and Federal members to step up and show leadership on the issue, because at a local level we seem to be continuing to go in circles.

Blaming the RMS for not making the decision for us or stomping our feet if they warn there may end up being no overpass if the indecision continues and the budget dissipates, is not leadership.

Elizabeth Flaherty
Editor of scone.com.au