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2002 (c) Peninsula Community Access Newspaper Inc

 

Support for council on cycleway

 

I write concerning the letters in your newspaper regarding Gosford Council's recent decision to approve, in principle, shared pathways along waterfront reserves, including at Woy Woy.

I spoke in favour of this at the council meeting and was frankly disgusted that some waterfront residents were talking openly of not wanting to grant the public further access to land which they considered to be their own.

I also attended the "public meeting" held by waterfront residents in the week before council discussed the matter.

At that meeting a number of red herrings were presented as fact.

There was talk of "million dollar cycleways" when the council and the RTA will not spend anywhere near that figure.

Some people believed the pathway would be five times as wide as it actually will be.

There was certainty that trees would have to be butchered when the council has repeatedly said that will not happen.

Not a word of course about the mangroves which are continually butchered along some waterfront reserves so residents can get a better view.

The council was right to realise that vested interests were at the core of the actions of some waterfront residents.

By nine councillors to one, council voted for safety and equity for all citizens and rejected the selfish interests of the few.

It is essential that shared pathways be introduced on our reserves as they have been so successfully in other areas.

I presented to council figures showing that 1224 cyclists were killed or seriously injured on NSW roads in 200/01.

This is unacceptable and council had to act to prevent more deaths and injuries.

The truth is that some waterfront residents do not want the rest of us to have full access to our own reserves.

This is not acceptable and I totally support the council's decision.

Bob Williams, Woy Woy