New access offers hope for railway

Once a month on a property called Penwood at Jaspers Brush, a group of model train engineers would bring out their scale model replica trains for families and organised groups to enjoy at open days.

It wasn’t always that way. When the group started about 16 years ago it was only the property owner and some like-minded friends.

Over the years the group grew, then became a club with a membership of about 30 and then started to hold open days to raise funds for charity.

Following the collision earlier this year the size of the operation was brought to the attention of police, council and the RTA.

Holding responsibility for personal safety at that intersection senior council staff instructed the Penwood group to stop holding open days until they had council consent.

Les Irwin started the venture and owns the property. And while he was surprised by recent correspondence instructing him to stop the open days he understood the need for safer access.

Council staff have organised a meeting with Penwood members, the police, the Mayor and elected councillors in about two weeks to find a solution to the access issue.

“We are hoping to get an extension of the laneway down to Mullers Lane which has safer access off the highway,” Mr Irwin said.

“The volume of traffic on the highway is unbelievable now compared to 15 years ago.

“We have some other traffic management ideas and we will present those at the meeting too.

“Whether they accept it is up to council,” he said.

Council’s Development and Environmental Services director Tim Fletcher said that for a number of years council indicated Penwood didn’t require council consent because the operation was small and domestic, and restricted to club members.

“However it’s grown over time, started advertising it and holding public open days which some reports indicate there had been 1000 people attending,” Mr Fletcher said.

He said that after the recent accident police contacted the RTA and council to ask about the traffic management at the site.

“We investigated and found there was no approval for public open days at the facility.

“Our primary concern was traffic safety, so we wrote to them and told them they now needed approval.

“We recognise they do good things for charities and provide a good facility for the community.

“But given the potential risk with traffic dangers we felt we needed to stop activities there.

“Legally they have to get development consent from council as there is a very real and apparent traffic issue that needs to be managed in a proper way,” Mr Fletcher said.

A week before the club received an emergency order to cease activities

Council’s Development and Environmental Services development manager Robert Russell sent a letter to Mr Irwin explaining that council approval was needed to host open days.

“It’s certainly a dangerous driveway to come out of,” he said.

“There is only a 120-metre sight distance at best approaching that entrance on the highway, and you need 270 metres at best on a 100km/h zone to stop.”

Mr Russell said nearby Mullers Lane was a much safer access point off the highway if access to Penwood could be arranged.

“We’ve said to Mr Irwin if it’s your hobby there’s no problem using the railway with friends but when you form a club you’ve got to be careful with that.

“The responsibility of ensuring public safety is mine and Mr Fletcher’s.

“The railway is a fantastic thing and I understand these things can grow. But we weren’t consulted when they started to open it to the general public.

“It’s a great facility we just need to solve this issue,” he said.

A spokeswoman said the RTA had safety concerns about access to the site due to the restricted sight distance and the close proximity to Croziers Road.

“The approval of this development is a matter for Shoalhaven City Council.

“To date the RTA has not received any referral from council regarding a Development Application for Penwood Station.

“When a development is proposed which impacts a state road such as the Princes Highway, council forwards this to the RTA for comment,” she said.