Residents of Emma Parade in Winmalee have been maintaining a trail which runs behind five properties for years at their own expense. The trail is important because it acts as a fire break for homes and provides emergency access.
It’s been unclear whether the trail is council or crown owned, so when resident Stephen Ray was asked to foot the bill for clearing the trail behind his property because the amount of green waste exceeded council’s two free green waste pick-ups per year, he drew the line.
Contacting his ward 3 councillors, Shae Foenander raised the issue at the June 27 council meeting, requesting an urgent briefing about the feasibility of council removing the waste.
It was decided that council would collect and dispose of the remaining green waste cleared by Mr Ray.
Investigation by council revealed the trail was on council owned land behind three of the properties, which it will now maintain, and the trail went through private land on two other Emma Parade properties, which would therefore be up to these residents to maintain.
“Blue Mountains City Council will take responsibility for ongoing maintenance for its section of the perimeter road adjoining Emma Parade Winmalee that serves as emergency access behind nearby homes,” a council spokeswoman said.
Cr Foenander said she was pleased there was some clarity about the shared responsibility for the trail, saying, “It will be a relief to the residents of Emma Parade to know that the council will maintain its portion of the perimeter road to minimise the risk of another bushfire impacting on homes.”
