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On the wrong side of the tracks: footpath concerns

The lack of footpath along Nymagee Street is causing concerns for residents, who believe they are "disadvantaged". Nymagee Street, which forms part of the Mitchell Highway is the most popular route though Nyngan for cars, trucks and road trains to pass through heading to either Narromine, Cobar or Bourke avoiding the main street. Currently along the street there is no footpath allowing residents to walk to the main street and CBD, and some townspeople such as Nyngan's Peter Rees are fed up. "It's a class discrimination over here, we're on the wrong side of the tracks," Mr Rees said. "There's no footpath for children and disabled adults to walk along to get to the shopping centre." The Bogan Shire Council said work will begin on a recreational pathway from the Shearing Shed museum through to the Bogan river, which they hope will alleviate concerns. "With the construction of the new pathway from the river to the Shearing Shed Museum, the council hopes that people will be able to use that as an alternative to the roadway, whilst understanding that it does mean crossing the Highway," Shire General Manager Derek Francis said. Mr Rees said he was outraged to see residents such as children and those with assisted mobility devices, walking on the highway, where they're in danger of getting hit by trucks. He said there was no alternative for people to access the CBD. "If you have a pram or a wheelchair the nearest footpath is on Wambiana Street," he said. "[The council] shouldn't be concerned about someone being hit by a train, somebody's going to be hit by a road train." Mr Rees said the traffic island opposite the Outback Motor Inn highlighted another safety issue for pedestrians because its bars were continually being knocked off from wide loads. "They've always had a problem down here and they haven't overcome it," he said. "They put that traffic island refuge in there, but it hasn't got any bars on there, because they keep taking them off there because wide loads keep knocking them over. "Would you put your grandmother on that refuge with a road train coming along wither way? It's just ridiculous."

On the wrong side of the tracks: footpath concerns

  • FOOTPATH DISASTER: Residents are being forced to walk along Nymagee Street, next to traffic due to no footpaths. Photo: CONTRIBUTED

  • FOOTPATH DISASTER: Residents are being forced to walk along Nymagee Street, next to traffic due to no footpaths. Photo: CONTRIBUTED

    FOOTPATH DISASTER: Residents are being forced to walk along Nymagee Street, next to traffic due to no footpaths. Photo: CONTRIBUTED

  • On the wrong side of the tracks: footpath concerns

The lack of footpath along Nymagee Street is causing concerns for residents, who believe they are "disadvantaged".

Nymagee Street, which forms part of the Mitchell Highway is the most popular route though Nyngan for cars, trucks and road trains to pass through heading to either Narromine, Cobar or Bourke avoiding the main street.

Currently along the street there is no footpath allowing residents to walk to the main street and CBD, and some townspeople such as Nyngan's Peter Rees are fed up.

"It's a class discrimination over here, we're on the wrong side of the tracks," Mr Rees said.

"There's no footpath for children and disabled adults to walk along to get to the shopping centre."

The BRead More – Source

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Nyngan Observer

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