Community members engaged in bitter argument over the Frost Street underpass have been urged to move on from last month's council decision and be responsible for their public comments. Strathbogie Shire Mayor Claire Ewart-Kennedy said council's decision to accept Inland Rail's offer of closing the underpass and accepting $350,000 in compensation was a difficult choice to make. “We had to make a really tough decision and that’s our role as councillors," Cr Ewart-Kennedy said. “But we have to move on with the community; everyone needs to stop looking in the rearview mirror and simply get on with it.” Cr Ewart-Kennedy also slammed comments made on social media about the issue and said she would ‘call out’ bullies when needed. “People have posted that council needs to be brought in front of VCAT and councillors sent to jail. “Those who do such muckracking are being irresponsible for their own community and that's unacceptable. “Calling for me to be sent straight to jail is ridiculous; who do they think they are? “That's pure harassment and bullying and in this day and age, it's simply not on.” Cr Ewart-Kennedy highlighted the need for council to work with all stakeholders during the project's construction and reiterated that the onus of maintenance and cleaning of the new underpass, had it gone ahead, would have been the shire’s. She said council did not want to inherit new infrastructure that would incur a perpetual cost. “Our job is to be financially responsible and sustainable under the Local Government Act, and to do that we don’t need additional structures forced upon us. “The current underpass is not compliant given that more freight will be passing overhead. “Once you start doing something new to a structure it has got to meet today's risk assessment, not what was acceptable fifty years ago.” “It is worth remembering that we are at the behest of Inland Rail and we are talking about a national freight line, so our job is to work with all stakeholders. Despite the fallout from council's decision, Cr Ewart-Kennedy said it was still important that members of the community speak up on the project and debate the issues based on facts. “Community and action groups and individuals should be encouraged to use their voices at all times, but it needs to be within the reality of what we can and can't effect. "Social media posts have been partially factual at best. “It is far better for the community if we deal with the facts."
