Managing Marrangaroo
Dear Editor,
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I recently attended the meeting at Marrangaroo (24 Nov 2016) organised by consultants to the Lithgow City Council about the proposed Marrangaroo Urban Release Area.
The project involves a substantial release of land for future housing and industrial development sited directly in an area that would provide the shortest road connection between Marrangaroo and Clarence.
The proposal would therefore pose major concerns for the future development of the western section of an expressway crossing of the Blue Mountains.
While the consultants provided an extensive list of issues relating to the project benefits, they failed to make any significant comments regarding the possibility of a major road corridor development in that locality.
In recent times a somewhat similar development situation was made by Bathurst Regional Council at Eglinton.
That experience again shows that there can be major problems associated with the way Local Government bodies can plan projects that have implications extending well beyond their Council area.
These plans lack the wider regional community awareness campaigns essential for sound assessments.
A common problem often arising from these situations is the issue of town bypassing.
This evidence clearly shows that there is a need for a more effective planning framework that would include a wider, more comprehensive and independent examination of regional impacts.
Revision of current community consultation practices is needed to ensure that this responsibility is properly shared between State Planning, the Roads and Maritime Services, Local Government and regional communities.
Highway developments are costly but if done properly can have very substantial long-term regional benefits.
Planning projects of this kind should not be left to the Local Government bodies alone but be subject to more formal investigative processes where evidence is carefully gathered, presented and recorded.
Such processes are even more necessary in situations where road user advocacy is at a very low level.
Currently there are no formally organised road user associations dedicated to dealing with highway development issues in the Central West.
Under present conditions it seems likely that the Great Western Highway will remain Australia’s oldest road problem for many years to come.
Yours sincerely,
Graham Dun (Cowra), Central West Transport Forum
Business going the extra mile
Dear Editor,
I would like to relate to your readers a great experience I had in Portland on Thursday of last week (November 24).
While returning to Orange from the Capertee Valley the clutch on my vehicle failed in Portland.
While it was after 5.00pm a local suggested I go to Portland Automotive.
Luckily Brendon Miles was still there, he confirmed that the clutch hydraulic cylinder had failed, he rang and identified the part was available in Lithgow, he then rang a friend who picked it up and delivered it to Portland and then he stayed back until about 7.00pm to fit the part.
I believe Brendon is an asset to Portland Automotive and a great ambassador for the community of Portland.
Thank you Brendon.
Regards,
Don Saville, Orange
Operation Christmas Child a success
Dear Editor,
A Thank you from Operation Christmas Child
Our grand total of Shoe Boxes packed for needy children in the South Pacific Area from the Lithgow district was 735!
This exceeded our past efforts by over 100, which has been an amazing effort.
Our thanks go to those near and far who sewed shorts and sundresses; knitted and crocheted pencil cases and a variety of toys and puppets; made superb wooden toys (thanks to the Men’s Shed); those who gave of their time monthly to pack; those who donated a splendid array of goods and the necessary money to ensure they reach their destination.
We are so grateful to everyone.
We have already heard of some of our boxes being identified as on their way to Cambodia, Fiji and Vanuatu to gladden the hearts of needy children there.
Our thanks to the Professionals who have been a regular drop off point for much of the year.
We wish everyone a blessed Christmas and we look forward to regrouping in 2017 to continue the opportunity we have to share our abundance with others.
Any enquiries to Kerry or Val Morris 0406241616, 79 Cupro St.
Regards,
Val Morris, Lithgow
Praise for Halloween ‘16
Dear Editor,
Friends from Bathurst – a young family and grand dad –would like everyone to know how great the Halloween weekend was in Lithgow.
The children in particular thought it was wonderful.
They are ready to come back next year.
Do hope the rumours I heard of cancellation is incorrect.