Walking trail gains pace

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Walking trail gains pace

Sharing concerns: from left, Fish Creek farmer Meg Parkinson discusses the Hoddle Mountain Trail proposal with South Gippsland Shire Council mayor Cr Lorraine Brunt.

 

THE public will be invited to have its say on a 17km walking trail proposed for Fish Creek.

South Gippsland Shire Council will call for community feedback about a controversial proposal to open an unmade section of Fish Creek Quarry Road as part of the trail.

Adjoining farmers are concerned doing so will impact their dairying, poultry and kennel businesses. Among those farmers concerned is Carl Talbot, the partner of Cr Meg Edwards, and Meg Parkinson, who runs a free range egg and kennel business nearby.

Trail advocates have said they have been frustrated by gates and fences being erected along parts of the road to keep walkers out, while farmers say the walkers have disrupted their operations as the unmade section is used for farming.

The community based Hoddle Mountain Trail Management Group wants to establish the trail near Fish Creek using road, existing trail and the Great Southern Rail Trail, starting and finishing in town.

The trail would include Fish Creek Quarry Road and is to be part of council’s Draft Paths and Trails Strategy 2017-2022 to be tabled at the February 2018 council meeting.

Council will call for public submissions by placing a public notice in newspapers in the week starting January 15, 2018, giving people an opportunity to make a written submission by February 13, 2018.

Cr Edwards was absent from council debate about the proposal last Wednesday, during which Cr Alyson Skinner said, “There are lots of different opinions here. Let’s keep this nice everyone. Let’s get the facts on the table. There is no need for personal attacks.”

She said the issue was not about a farmer’s right to farm and thought a “creative solution” could be found.

Mayor Cr Lorraine Brunt was concerned about the cost to council of maintaining another trail and also the implications for other unmade roads through farms.

Cr Andrew McEwen said the mountain trail group was not proposing an expensive trail.

Ms Parkinson told council last Wednesday she was concerned walkers near her kennels business would cause dogs to bark and disturb neighbours, and pose a biosecurity risk to poultry, due to walkers’ shoes possibly being contaminated. Cr Jeremy Rich said biosecurity was an individual farmer’s responsibility.

Ms Parkinson said she has had animal rights advocates climb a fence on her property and is concerned the trail would provide other protesters with easier access.

“Trespass is a civil offence, not a criminal offence, and it is hard to take through the courts,” she said.

She was also concerned about gates being left open and impacting livestock, and suggested the trail follow an alternate route.

The proposed trail also impacts a quarry leased by council to Goldsmith Quarries Pty Ltd.

Last Wednesday, council voted to renew the lease of the quarry to the company, but reduced the area to 24.5ha to exclude part of the trail and the Battery Creek catchment area.

Council will start the statutory process for a new lease for an initial term of 10 years, with options for a further 10 years.

A public notice will appear in newspapers in the week starting January 8, 2018 and people will be able to make a written submission by February 6, 2018.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted by on Dec 28 2017. Filed under Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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