Bungendore log traffic ceases!

["David Bennetts" <davibenn@pcug.org.au>]

Today's Canberra Times carries a sad story about the log traffic from
Bungendore.  After only a fortnight's operation, local residents'
objections have forced the export company Radiata Exports to withdraw their
stockpiling and loading operations from Bungendore.

Radiata Exports won the contract to log 100,000 tonnes per year of
plantation pine from the Tallaganda State Forest.

Residents are angry about the noise of trucks and heavy equipment operating
early in the morning until late at night, lack of effective fencing, and
the danger of rolling logs to children living nearby.  At a public meeting
held in the town on Tuesday, the Director of Radiata Exports, Chris
Deighton came from Melbourne to attend the meeting.  The residents were
delighted and amazed when Mr Deighton announced the company would
immediately withdraw. 

Radiata Exports hopes to gain use of another railway siding just a
kilometre out of town.  I don't know what is referred to here, perhaps they
are considering loading on the first few hundred metres of the Captain's
Flat branch, if they re-instate the pointwork and rehabilitate the track?

Regards

David Bennetts
Canberra