Louise Doran is suspicious of the motives of rail trail supporters (Letters, March 7). Their motives and aims are very clear: protect the disused rail corridor from planning changes and ensure this land stays in public hands; create a safe passage for bike riders, walkers, mothers with prams and elderly folk on mobility vehicles; and create a tourism product of world recognition that can attract visitors who care about the environment and want to explore our region.
This is not just for the economic stimulus that the villages along the corridor will gain from the rail trail. It is also about jobs, not only in cafes, accommodation and tourism operations, but in food production, Indigenous tourism, museums and interpretive centres, and so much more.
Supporters of the rail trail are not anti-train. They are happy to work with any group that can put forward a proposal that keeps the corridor in public ownership. The government closed the rail line because very few people were using it – the line did not meet people’s transport needs. The rail trail ensures the corridor and rail formation are protected for any future train services. This is a huge opportunity – we need to get behind the rail trail: northernriversrailtrail.org.au.
Geoff Meers, Suffolk Park
Not until you weed out those amongst your ranks who are clearly anti-train and don’t have any interest in ‘preserving the corridor’ for its possible future return. Until those people are gone from your group you can’t hope to achieve anywhere near the support of the community you could have otherwise.