scone.com.auLast Chance to Count
LOCAL business owners, Council and the Roads and Maritime Services may not agree on everything, but they do agree that people need to make their opinions known on the bypass and rail bridge options now.
The RMS is holding the last two consultation sessions tomorrow and Friday at the Scone Motor Inn to hear any final perspectives on the plans.
Teresa Herbert speaking with Pat Gleeson about the bypass designs
The Scone Chamber of Commerce is concerned with details of current design and is rallying members to take action before it is too late.
Teresa Herbert, executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce and Pat Gleeson, owner of Pat Gleeson Real Estate, have been speaking with local businesses and agree the main concern is the access at the southern and northern approaches of the bypass.
“Really what we want changed are the two intersections,” said Mr Gleeson.
“We want people to be aware that on the southern approach there is no access for people leaving Scone to turn right and at the northern end they can’t turn left,” he said.
“Which if you go back a proposal or two they had that, but it changed,” he said.
“Yes, that’s the main thing, the access at the two intersections,” said Ms Herbert.
“And the message we are trying to get out now, is that in order to get this changed we have to do something quickly,” she said.
“We’ve only got until the 19th of February, because that’s when submissions close,” she said.
The business community and Council also believe if the bypass approaches had better access, an in town road bridge would not be needed.
Anna Zycki, regional manager for RMS Hunter region, said the RMS often change plans when the community draw issues to their attention and encourages local people to provide advice.
“Projects get changed because of community input all the time and we are listening,” said Ms Zycki.
“We want plans that work for the community and when we hear an overwhelming number of people voice concerns about an issue, we have to address that issue,” she said.
“The more people present their ideas, the happier we are to be quite frank, we want that detail from the community,” Anna Zycki said.
The RMS is required, as part of the planning process, to address each concern raised by community members through their formal consultation sessions tomorrow and Friday and also any submissions made to them by February 19.
More information on the Chamber of Commerce’s action plan can be found on their website: Speak Out.
To make a submission to the RMS online you can visit their website: RMS website.
The details of the remaining sessions can be viewed in the Community Diary: