Guyra we can do it!
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I would like to add to the discussion on the New England Rail Trail from the view of a teenager who lives in Guyra.
Spending time with my mates on our mountain bikes is a great way to keep fit and stay healthy and to do it in a safe place like a Rail Trail and not on the roads and across the busy highway would be great and safe. Parents and grandparents could teach their kids riding in a safe place and allow them the chance to explore all the old history of our area, something that we don’t get to do now because the rail tracks and their history and heritage are just fading into the past to be forgotten by most people.
How can the history and heritage of the railway be remembered if it is not seen by anyone ?
I have just turned 15 years old and have always lived in Guyra and I want to stay in Guyra. The best way that the town can grow into the future is to keep our young people here in town, give them the opportunity for a job here in Guyra when they leave school. Wouldn’t the Rail Trail help do that?, even though I’m only 15 I don’t see how any business in town or along the Rail Trail wouldn’t be better off with the Rail Trail bringing more people spending money into town.
Have you seen the Caravans and Motorhomes that stay around the lagoon? Most have bikes and even kayaks, give them a reason to stay a little longer and explore on their bikes, walk the trail and see the history, eat in our cafes and restaurants and keep their money here a little longer.
I watched the cars on the highway in the school holidays and counted the cars that passed through for a while that had bikes on the back. Some may have stopped here in Guyra if we gave them a reason to stop, like the Rail Trail.
I can see people doing things like driving up to the New England to Black Mountain or Ben Lomond train station with their bikes, looking around the stations, seeing its history, then riding along the Rail Trail into Guyra past our great train station and machinery museum and straight into the main street where they will see shops like the bakery, SPAR, newsagent, the Pubs or Rafters for lunch. The more adventurous may continue further along the line, use the toilets and buy food and drinks at Llangothlin shop before they come back through Guyra and our main street again. They may even stay the night in our motels and eat at one of the restaurants.
The flow on effect of getting people into our shops and spending money can only have a good effect on all our shops in town. Let’s support the Rail Trail and all the potential uses for it not just bike riding and let our young people have even more of a chance at staying in Guyra into the future.
The Rail Trails in Victoria and New Zealand have created new jobs, kept small towns growing and given young people who love their towns a future in their town. With current and future users of the old rail tracks working together we could see something great for the future.
Guyra we can do that !!
Jaydon Gaddes
Rail Trail would be a winner
I would like to express my thoughts on the proposed rail trail. In December 2012 a fund raising committee, in conjunction with the police and VRA, organised a bike ride and walk from Armidale to Guyra as a fundraiser for Patty Garrett.
The response was unbelievable with riders coming from Guyra, Armidale, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Tamworth, Werris Creek, Sydney and Walcha. Many of these riders who were unknown to us said how they love to attend charity rides and making new friends. The event was a great success.
Without the help of police and VRA the event would not have been possible because of safety issues whereas with a rail trail, I feel safety issues would be dramatically reduced.
Since that ride I have taken up cycling and thoroughly enjoy it, but on occasions I have had a few close encounters with cars. I think being on a designated track, which I have ridden on in Newcastle and Coffs Harbour, would be beneficial for safety and enjoyment.
With established facilities, a rail trail for fund raising events where tragedy affects families like ours would be very easy to organise. Maybe annual events could be orchestrated to benefit designated charities.
I think if you enjoy riding, running or walking you should be able to do it in safety and the rail trail would be a winner.
Stephen Garrett