The Dutton St rail line has become a very contentious subject; Yass Valley Council appears to be set on removing the rail line, on the flimsy pretext that it will be safer for pedestrians. What about children running out between centre-line parked cars with traffic flowing both ways?

Remove the rail line to park more cars! Aren’t we promoting the use of the very thing that we are trying to control? Establish parking further away from school entrances will improve the safety of children, and at the same time give more exercise to and from parking.

The council is completely ignoring the heritage value of what was the foundation link that Yass survived and thrived on.

This is the only rail line of its kind in NSW and possibly Australia, isn’t this a tourist drawcard?

Our new council has the opportunity to start something that has been forgotten by previous councils – a tourist attraction in Yass Town that will both draw people and hold their attention for a considerable time. The foundations are there, with the Yass Railway Museum, Vintage Car Club, the Antique Farm Machinery exhibits, to mention a few of the attractions that would draw tourists if they were put together in an area readably accessible to the public. The Dutton Street rail line could be an important part of this. So how do we accommodate the apparent conflicting interests? Easy, lower the rail line to the level of the roadway and you have traffic freedom and rail access.

Will the new council show leadership, and promote the heritage of Yass or will they fall into the mode that seems to have prevailed previously? The inability to bring the past into the future. This will inform the children of tomorrow of where they came from and how it was achieved. There is nothing better than to “see” and put “hands on” to enhance your education.

What explanation will be given when the next generation ask about the rail bridge with no rail connection? It may well be that in time to come, rail lines will be revived, Yass would be ready, and there is a possibility that a rail link will be established to Canberra. Yass has the basis to achieve this.

May I take the opportunity to urge all interested people to sign a petition that is being circulated to retain the rail lines in Dutton Street.

John Best

Yass