Kathy Gandolfi
THE Coonawarra/Penola Rail Trail will not divert to Father Woods Park following a decision made at Wattle Range Council’s monthly meeting on Tuesday.
Council has been deliberating for some months about the possibility of diverting the trail, which is currently under construction, at right angles from the rail corridor 20 kms north of Penola to pass eastly along an unmade road reserve, currently used by farmers Peter and Elke Hocking, to access the Riddoch Highway which would allow rail trail users to cross the road into Father Woods Park.
When the Hockings and another nearby farmer, George Kidman, expressed concern about the plan, Council explored the possibility of moving the Park’s large wooden statues – which have made the Park increasingly popular with visitors – into Penola.
With the Catholic church unwillingly to move the statues, Council appointed engineering consultants, Tonkin Consulting Pty Ltd, to assess options for developing a safe crossing of the Riddoch Highway for rail trail users.
Options presented for the rail trail to access Father Woods Park all involved either increased costs above the budgeted amount for the trail’s construction while not completely eliminating safety concerns unless an underpass under the highway was constructed which was reported could cost $500,000.
On Tuesday night elected members discussed the options at length before deciding to scrap plans for the rail trail to divert to Father Woods Park.
This will mean that the trail will continue up the disused railway corridor from Glenroy Bool Lagoon Road to the Penola Hundred Line.
Council noted that this may provide an opportunity for Naracoorte Lucindale council’s trail to meet up with Penola’s and may be in line with a vision expressed by Premier Steven Marshall to create a trail linking Adelaide with Melbourne.
In the discussion leading to the decision Cr John Drew said Father Woods Park would make a good destination point for trail users.
Cr Dale Price said the destination should be Naracoorte.
“The tree is not Father Woods tree – we know that,” he said referring to revelations that the original Father Woods tree was toppled by a storm in 1883.
“There was never any consultation about the position of those statues and now we are expected to pick up the tab for toilets etc there … it’s a dangerous crossing and I can hear the outcry from truckies [if the crossing went ahead].”
He said development at the park may be something for the future but not with the current trail project.
“For the moment just get the job done and go straight up the line,” he said.
“But I still think the statues should be in Penola.”
The majority of councillors voted in favour of the option to continue construction of the trail up the railway corridor to the Penola Hundred Line and not divert to Father Woods Park.
Council will advise the Father Woods Park Committee of the decision which includes council not proceeding, at this time, with any planned facilities for the park which had included toilets, constructing and sealing a larger car park, bins and picnic tables.
With money saved from not undertaken this work, Council will investigate the possibility of developing a car park at the end of the trail and enhancements for the beginning point of the trail in Penola.
