The Channon celebrates a win on footpath rescission motion

By Abbey Hodson

In early February, our village achieved something worth celebrating.

Following sustained advocacy and thoughtful due diligence by local residents, and further consideration by Council, a rescission motion on the proposed Standing Street–Mill Street footpath was supported and the footpath will therefore not go ahead.

This outcome reflects the community’s commitment to constructive engagement, and Council’s willingness to pause, reconsider, and ultimately respond to the clearly expressed concerns of residents.

We would like to acknowledge that Council’s original intentions were well-meaning.

The funding was secured through a Get Active grant, with the stated aim of supporting community health, walkability, and active lifestyles.

Our community is already highly active, and over time it became clear that this particular proposal would not enhance that goal, but instead disrupt daily lives and require the removal of valued mature shade trees.

What ultimately fell short was not intent, but process, specifically, early and meaningful community consultation, which is a requirement of the grant guidelines, along with the retention of existing shade trees wherever possible. 

For those who were not closely following the issue, the community’s opposition was not to safety improvements, but to how those improvements were being pursued.

The key issues raised by residents, and the P&C included:

• Insufficient community consultation at the outset: The grant application was progressed without early engagement with residents. Later opportunities for feedback were limited in scope, timing, and reach, making it difficult for Council to hear the full breadth of local knowledge 

• Misunderstandings about stakeholder positions: The School and P&C were publicly described as supporting the footpath. In reality, the School’s position is neutral, and the P&C was never formally consulted and is unanimously opposed. Both were distressed by this misrepresentation.

• An inconclusive and narrowly scoped risk assessment:The risk assessment focused on one section of road rather than village-wide safety issues. It didn’t consider other safety measures such as traffic calming, instead of a footpath.

• Mismatch between the proposal and actual usage patterns. Only one child currently walks up Standing Street to school, using the existing grass verge and tree cover.

• Potential creation of new risks: The proposed pathway would intersect with a loading zone and terminate near the General Store petrol bowser, an area with known visibility and traffic issues.

• Environmental and practical considerations
Many residents were concerned that the proposal involved a two-metre-wide concrete path along the existing green verge, significantly altering the character of Standing Street. The grassy verge and mature shade trees are central to the village’s identity and provide natural shade and buffering from the road.

Throughout the process, the community undertook its own due diligence. Residents repeatedly offered constructive alternatives, including traffic calming and speed-reduction measures, providing Council with options that addressed safety concerns without compromising community trust or Council’s integrity.

Ultimately, Council’s decision to listen to the community and reconsider the decision was a great example of democracy in action.

To mark this moment, the community will be holding a celebration at The Channon Tavern on Saturday 7 March from 6pm.

This will be an opportunity to:

• Celebrate a positive example of community action for the common good
• Thank councillors for listening and responding to community concerns
• Reinforce the strength and engagement of our village

A strong turnout will send a clear and constructive message: when communities and councils work together better outcomes are possible for everyone. All residents are encouraged to come along.

Abbey Hodson is a Channon resident.