I do want to make it clear that I was at the Guyra meeting of the NSW Farmers when a motion was passed in support of the New England Rail Trail, so yes the Guyra branch of NSW farmers is totally supportive of the Rail trail. The motion passed was that the NSW farmers Guyra Branch support the Rail Trail conditional on:

1. Neighbours give consent and right of way is maintained to manage farms

2. No cost to ratepayers

3. Interests of leaseholders is not compromised

4. Corridor is available for use as a rail corridor in the future

In support of the Rail Trail I see it as a great means to preserve the history of the rail line. Leaving the trail as it is, is just freezing history and letting it decay. The history of the trail is rich with or without the rail lines and sleepers, so long as the rail corridor and railway stations and sidings are retained and maintained. 

What better way to move forward and preserve these assets than by establishing a well maintained rail trail, which will also help sustain our smaller communities and regions into the future.

I was fortunate last year to ride the Otago Rail trail in NZ. It confirmed to me what a wonderful asset a rail trail is to small farming communities. I spoke with farmers who were dead set against the project coming out and saying how wrong they were and what an asset it has been in bringing their communities alive. 

The 4 conditions above that the NSW farmers have stipulated can be addressed with consultation and learning from other Rail trails.

Rail enthusiast need to take the blinkers off and look at how they are actually destroying history by letting this asset decay.

Jenni Jackson