Article: Railway path plan sparks safety fears (Shorncliffe)

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest Brisbane North click here!

Railway path plan sparks safety fears

Railway path plan sparks safety fears

    by: Tom Kojrowicz, Northside Chronicle
    From: Quest Newspapers
    November 08, 2011 8:46AM

SPIKE in crime, a loss of privacy and a lack of community consultation have left Shorncliffe's Kate St residents upset over Queensland Rail plans to extend the footpath to connect Shorncliffe Station to Palm Ave.

The proposal, which comes after the closure of the Gowen St footbridge last month, includes a path adjacent to backyards of Kate St properties and the Shorncliffe train line in order to connect Palm Ave to the station.

Ian Christmas said  the neighbourhood was fearful of an increase in crime as the narrow path would be hidden from public view.

"I would not let my wife or children walk along a path hidden from public view at night with no escape and no alarm,'' Mr Christmas said. ``You'd have to suggest that this path would be a magnet for all sorts of behaviour.''

Tarek Salah said the path would diminish  his privacy.

"Our backyards are not designed to be a footpath,'' he said. ``The backs of our houses are really exposed and by standing behind our properties anyone can see right into them.''

Queensland Rail  public relations manager Nathan Scholz said the proposal was only in its design phase, and changes would be made based on community feedback.

"This has already received a range of feedback and suggestions relating to lighting, privacy and security, all of which will be reviewed,'' he said.

"Alternative arrangements for pedestrian access will be finalised in coming months.''

However, Sandra Appleby-Lake said the consultation had been disappointing.

"Do you call it consultation when they bring you a proposal that's already in planning stage?'' she said.

Residents would rather see the closed footbridge repaired, but QR insists it would be too expensive.

Mr Christmas said more consultation would answer the `burning questions' of the community.

"Its not always possible to have what you want, but I would like to see a variety of people together to talk," he said.

"QR are not engaging."

[#Metro]

"Do you call it consultation when they bring you a proposal that's already in planning stage?'' she said.

Um, what did you want them to do? Turn up at your house with a blank piece of paper and say "what do you think of this" (show blank piece of paper).

[Gazza]

 

"Do you call it consultation when they bring you a proposal that's already in planning stage?'' she said.

Well Sandra, how are you supposed to have a consultation if there is no design to show in the first place?

What are they supposed to do? Give a vauge verbal description saying "were gonna put a path along the back of these houses". Everyone could use their imagination.

[HappyTrainGuy]

cough Corinda cough cough Sherwood cough cough Tennyson cough cough cough.

I'm pretty sure that the land is on QR property so they don't really have much of a say.

[Derwan]

To get an idea of what they're talking about, check the map here:  http://g.co/maps/cnxjf

Previously, residents from south-west of the station have been able to walk from Palm Ave along Gowen St and across the pedestrian overbridge to the station.  This overbridge has now been closed and the residents have to walk all the way to Kate St and around to Railway Pde.

There is already a pathway behind some residents' houses between the overbridge and the station.  The proposal is to extend this walkway all the way to Palm Ave, behind more residents' houses.  This is a logical solution and provided there is appropriate lighting, I don't see what the residents have to complain about.  In fact their back yards will probably be more secure given that criminals will ignore the fact that they shouldn't be in the rail corridor.

[somebody]

Thanks for that Derwan.

If they think it is unsafe, they can still use Kate St!  What do they want, other than a good whinge?

[HappyTrainGuy]

http://www.nearmap.com/?ll=-27.537235,152.98107&z=22&t=n&nmd=20110113

A moat?