New track for rail yard?

• Mayor Greg Howard is hoping to attend the gathering at the Scottsdale rail yard next week.

By Daisy Baker,
October 20, 2021

Visions for Scottsdale rail yard’s future will be food for thought and conversation when the Rotary Club gathers for a barbecue on site next week.

Rotary Foundation member Rodney Martin said the group will discuss possible development options for the space if and when the rail yard becomes available.

“We have had lots of ideas put to us in the past, but we’d like to get some more community feedback and invite anyone along who would like to see the condition it is in or ask questions,” Mr Martin said.

“Former member Don Dickenson looked at putting in shower and toilet facilities for an RV camping area so that’s one of the options we could look at.”

Mr Martin said the Club first started discussions about installing RV amenities around five years ago.

Dorset Council is holding $25,000 of funding for the Rotary Club for a tourism-related development.

Mr Martin said the project is at a stalemate for the time being awaiting the outcome of an appeal against Dorset Council’s approval of the Wyena to Scottsdale section of the Rail Trail, which is expected within a month.

The latest appeal was heard by the Resource Management and Planning Appeals Tribunal earlier this week.

He said if the appeal is turned down, the Rotary Club could potentially have the ball rolling with a development application within the next six to 12 months.

Next week’s barbecue is one of Rotary Club’s six million-dollar meals, which they host each year, donations from which go to charity.

The barbecue will be held at the old rail yard in Scottsdale on Wednesday October 27 at 6pm for a 6.30pm start.

Mayor Greg Howard is expected to attend the informal evening.

Rotary will be supplying the barbecue plate and any members of the public wishing to attend are asked to bring their own meat.