MP in trail fight

By Kath Gannaway
GEMBROOK MP Tammy Lobato has weighed in on the part of business and property owners in Warburton in a dispute over access to the Lilydale/Warburton Rail Trail.
The Rail Trail Committee of Management plans to fence off the trail at station street (opposite the police station) effectively barring the rear access to three properties located between Warburton Highway and the trail.
An area of land beside the trail, which has been used by an adjoining automotive business as a car park for more than 40 years, would also be inaccessible.
In a letter to Attorney General Rob Hulls, Ms Lobato accused the committee of failing to consult with the affected landowners and tenants who she says will be “severely disadvantaged” by the proposal.
“The only front access available due to the topography of the land is a narrow, steep, one way, dead end 100 metre track with no parking or vehicle access to the properties,” she wrote.
“Residents would be forced to back down this laneway onto Warburton Highway which would be both illegal and dangerous.”
The Mail spoke to property owners Don Hewitt and Keith Davis, and resident Vicki Caneva.
Mr Hewitt rejected claims by the Rail Trail Committee that residents driving their cars along the 500 metre stretch of trail was an unacceptable risk to trail users.
“We have never had an incident on the track. If there was any legitimate reason for this you would just have to bite the bullet and accept it,” he said.
“But I challenge anybody to give us any instance where resident car traffic has been a threat to anyone.”
Mr Davis said he has been using the trail for 16 years without incident.
“We are all really aware it is a shared walking track so you just pull into the side. I have never seen bad behaviour on the track,” he said.
Ms Caneva said she relies on the rear access for wood and gas deliveries and is concerned that closing the trail will put residents in greater danger than any perceived danger to trail users.
“It is the only safe and reliable access for emergency vehicles.
“They have talked about providing keys for emergency vehicles but if it is a matter of life and death, two minutes fiddling with a key is all it takes,” she said.
She said the option of using the front service track is not only dangerous but illegal.
“I have had cars swerving around me after backing out on to the highway,” she said.
All have hit out at the lack of communication and what they say is the dictatorial approach of the Rail Trail Committee and their unwillingness to look at alternatives.
Mr Hewitt believes signage warning trail users that cars use the 500 metre section of track is all that is needed to maintain what he says is a flawless safety record.
New Rail Trail Committee chairman David DeGama has refuted claims that residents and property owners have not been adequately informed of the impending changes.
“Letters were sent out at least six months ago; they have been fully aware of all this but are just rounding up support for their cause,” he said.
He said the conditions which traditionally allowed for rear access to the properties and use by local businesses was no longer sustainable.
“The trail has heavy use on weekends, purely because of the number of tourists who ride their bikes up here.
“The committee is charged with managing the trial and our concern is, given the number of people riding on the trail, it is not suitable to have cars sharing the trail.
“We are aware they are not happy but they have to realise the trail is not for private access and it’s not for commercial use,” he said.
Mr DeGama said the Rail Trail Committee had the support of the Department of Sustainability and Environment in removing vehicles from the trail.
Mr DeGama said the committee had, in fact, made several suggestions to assist those affected by closing of the trail and were prepared to support them in finding alternative solutions, including the possibility of re-opening the front service road to through traffic.
He said he hoped a meeting to be held on 29 August between the committee, affected residents and property owners, and representatives of the Shire of Yarra Ranges and DSE, would provide an opportunity for further communication and solutions.