Editor,
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As a life-long resident of Narromine my wish would be to enhance our magnificent main street with a village centre, a refuge from the ever-increasing amount of traffic that fills our CBD.
With the construction of a two-way, heavy-vehicle bypass between Manildra and Alagala streets there is now no reason that B doubles, road trains or semi-trailers should have to turn around the Cenotaph as it exists and it should be left standing as it has always done, proudly in the centre of town.
Standing not only as a monument for all the brave members of our community that sacrificed their lives at war but as an iconic structure that says "This town is Narromine".
I understand that sometimes change is inevitable and safety is of great importance. I also believe that with a clever design we can keep our Cenotaph in the centre of town, improve the flow of traffic both north and south, create parking spaces for caravans, camper trailers and extend the mown area to the Cenotaph so that it can be viewed safely. To relocate it so that it sits back in the park would take away from its significance. Sitting with a backdrop of the railway and a frontage of parked vehicles the Cenotaph would just be another structure in town.
The community raised the money to build the Cenotaph and made the decision to place it where it stands therefore the community owns it and it should be up to the people to make any decision regarding its relocation.
It was disappointing that only two submissions were received when it was advertised by council. Please if you have any opinion at all on this matter let council know by signing a petition, writing a letter or by a simple phone call to a councillor. Councillors need the views of the community to make good decisions.
This matter will need further discussion by council and hopefully middle ground will be found. I celebrate the fact that we live in a democracy so if everyone has a say and the Cenotaph is moved out of the centre of town then I will be sad, but satisfied, that the community has voiced their opinion and that council has voted accordingly.
Sue McCutcheon
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Editor,
Having moved the motion at council that we support moving the Cenotaph into Perry Park to a place approved by the RSL I would like the town to hear my reasons.
When the Cenotaph was orignally built there was no traffic bigger than a large dray or one ton truck going around it.
We now have B double lorries that are about 80 feet long and weighing over 40 tonnes going past all through the day and night.
We also are right on the tourist track from Sydney to Central and North Australia.
Our town businesses already know the importance of this tourist trade which will only grow in the future.
Recently a submission from businesses around the square emphasised the importance of allowing caravans and other long vehicles to park in the area between the Cenotaph and Perry Park.
Until recently I have been in favour of leaving the Cenotaph where it is for the reasons given by those of that persuasion.
However, given the above parameters, it is not possible without severe risk to the moument.
Leaving the Cenotaph where it is involves make a "T" at the corner of Burroway and Dandaloo streets which is not possible as there is not room for semi-trailers coming from the east along Burroway Street to turn south along Dandaloo Street. This turn would be dangerous to the Cenotaph and traffic travelling north.
When we approached the RTA about stopping semi-trailers using the main street, council was told this was not possible.
If you leave the Cenotaph where it is and extend Perry Park out to it, you lose all the parking that town businesses say is so important. You would still only be able to look at two sides of the Cenotaph as the other two sides would front Burroway and Dandaloo streets.
I want to hear what the RSL have to say about it but it seems to me that if the Cenotaph was moved, you could move the sweeping bend that joins Burroway Street and Dandaloo Street going south a lot closer to the corner. This would allow the present long-vehicle parking to be similarly moved and Perry Park to be enlarged into this area.
This would be an ideal place for the Cenotaph as it would take pride of place in the park, would still be very much part of Narromine's square and would be out of danger's way.
Locals and visitors would be able to view all sides of it without the risk of being run over as is the case at present and our memorial services would be held in the surroundings of the park and gardens instead of the middle of the road. I have very close family attachments to the Cenotaph so I don't take moving it lightly, but if we want the Cenotaph to remain for future generations to enjoy, then I believe we have to take this hard decision.
George W. Mack
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