07/02/2025
When this was posted around the place about the Fail Trail, many sent me screenshots and links asking if I had seen it and was aware of the issue. I waited a few days to see how many would react before commenting now.
I am fully aware that Lismore City Council staff went with an inferior product when the budget blew out and it looked like councillors would kill the project. Instead of sealed bitumen as planned, we ended up with this. It is one of the reasons why I repeatedly state that road cyclists with expensive bikes will not use the Fail Trail.
I am hearing this is not the worst of it. I expect sections to be closed off for repair within one year of opening, or sooner if a minor or moderate flood goes through South Lismore.
Section 1 of 3, from Bentley to South Lismore, has cost about $11 million, and we can already see how expensive this poorly used goat track will be to maintain. It is expected rates, fees and charges will be pushed up even further so every ratepayer has to pay for this bad decision forever.
To make things worse, staff are already chasing $45 million plus to progress section 2 from South Lismore to Eltham. Then there is section 3 from Eltham to Booyong which will cost even more. This sort of flippant expenditure on a barely used goat track with no adequate business plan and no proof of significant economic benefit is madness.
If what I have stated above does not concern you, even just from an increased financial burden on all ratepayers perspective, our current decision makers are also pushing to actually connect Lismore to the Fail Trail by building a third bridge across the river from the goat track in South Lismore to the CBD. Apparently bridges at each end of Union Street are not enough.
Besides adding millions in expenditure and an even greater burden on all ratepayers, a third bridge will present as yet another obstruction, which will adversely impact rescuers during many flood events, and which may catch considerable debris during major flooding events resulting in many unexpected adverse outcomes.
Say no to the Fail Trail!!!
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