Woombye fight to save their town

Woombye residents are pleading with the Government to save the land earmarked for a proposed rail stabling facility in a trust so the community will have green spaces for sport and recreational use when the rail duplication happens. Balancing growth and development is a complex issue for politicians, government departments and communities. The Gazette talks with Woombye residents and their Member for Nicklin Peter Wellington MP.When selected Woombye residents were invited to an information session at the local hall in 2014 there was little concern about a proposed rail facility in Woombye. After all it is a railway town and most residents are familiar with the noise and commotion you would expect near a railway line.There were three Woombye residents who took particular interest; three ordinary family men who all have a background in planning and development.  They have consumed every bit of information on the proposed facility. They told the Gazette their concerns very quickly turned to alarm and they formed a sub-committee of the Woombye Business and Community Association. WARS stands for Woombye Against Rail Stabling and today this group have more than 500 people on their database.WARS Co-Founder and Spokesperson James Kasmer said the Woombye Community is not against rail stabling or duplication, "Both Rail Stabling and Rail Duplication make perfect sense when you understand their intent, outside of what is being proposed for our town, “ Mr Kasmer explained.  "There is no other commercial or industrial type infrastructure in Woombye and our concern is that stabling in Woombye creates a precedent, given rail stabling infrastructure already exists at the next stop north and it is also where the daily service to Brisbane starts."Last month WARS hosted a community rally at the local bowls club. Deputy Premier Jackie Trad MP and Member for Nicklin Peter Wellington MP attended the rally and addressed concerns from the angry community. The venue was bursting at the seams and every attempt was made to answer questions and alleviate concerns.Woombye resident Ms Emma Kill said she attended the rally and came away outraged, "I am politically engaged and was thrilled when Peter (Wellington) was re-elected early this year," Ms Kill said. "Peter's passion for this proposed facility raised more questions for me that night than answers. His role is to represent us and he said he would support the facility if there was a benefit to Woombye and there is no benefit at all." Ms Kill said she has now joined the WARS group to save Woombye.Queensland Rail (QR) hosted a community information session in Woombye on Saturday 30th May. A spokesperson said 25 residents attended the session with most questions relating to location, noise, environmental impacts and flooding.  QR and Leightons Contracting representatives were on hand to speak with concerned residents and the outcomes were very positive, "Most people understood the project and the small amount of confusion was easily resolved," the QR spokesperson said.Member for Nicklin Peter Wellington MP also attended the information session. He told the Gazette the only alternative location was Nambour but it was substantially more expensive to build in Nambour , "Forgetting the cost, all the advice we have says the facility will be located at Woombye once we get Federal and State funding to duplicate the railway line,' Mr Wellington said. "As I understand it the duplication planning is not completed as no funding has been allocated. When the Woombye stabling yard is complete,  the benefit will be nine additional train services each weekday to Brisbane." Mr Wellington said the current government is committed to improving public transport where as the previous government offered no benefits to the local community, "I reject the WARS view as there needs to be improved services."The facebook page Woombye Against Rail Stabling has seen many posts from Brisbane resident Kate Gibney. Kate told the Gazette she grew up in Woombye and is planning to move back to the area and has attended all meetings and QR information session, "I was so annoyed and upset when I left the last QR meeting after listening to the spin from QR," Ms Gibney said. "They kept using the word hope, we hope there will be minimum noise, we hope there will be no light. There has been a continual waste of money on this project, the research is very questionable and the way it has been delivered so far is just outrageous." Ms Gibney said she was too upset to discuss it further with Mr Wellington when he arrived at the QR session.Peter Wellington said he has a very good relationship with this government, “They have assured me there will be minimal impacts on the local community and the previous government would not do that," Mr Wellington explained. When asked what he will do if the facility is built and there are problems Mr Wellington concluded, "I will continue to monitor the situation and work with this government to make sure all impacts are minimised."