MORTDALE residents are angry that Hurstville Council closed the gates on a popular walking trail without warning last week.
The trail, at the end of Balmoral Road, Mortdale, runs along Hurstville Golf Course to Oatley Heights and is used as a shortcut by many elderly residents to get to the nearby shops.
Hurstville Council decided to shut the gates as golf balls hitting properties along the boundary of the golf course are a safety risk to people using the trail.
One resident, who did not wish to be named, said the gates were closed without warning on Wednesday, July 9, catching many residents by surprise.
‘‘People were trying to get home and found the gates shut,’’ the resident said.
‘‘This included many residents who had been up to the St George Maso’s Club for the members’ badge draw.
‘‘Many elderly residents who live in the area nicknamed ‘B Hill’ used the trail as a shortcut to catch the bus or go to the new Woolworths or the Maso’s Club. One resident who is in her 80s used the trail to go out and do her shopping in the morning and when she came back later in the day she found the gates shut.
‘‘It meant she had to carry her heavy shopping the long way home up Roberts Avenue.’’
The resident said someone had since cut the cyclone fencing so people were able to get through.
A petition calling on Hurstville Council to reopen the gates is available at Woolworths, the Maso’s Club and Crunch Fitness, Mortdale.
A Hurstville Council spokeswoman said that due to the high number of golf balls hitting properties along the boundary of the golf course, the council commissioned a trajectory study to address safety concerns.
‘‘The study confirmed the high incidence of errant golf balls and how they could present a risk to nearby housing and people who are walking on the trail adjacent to the course via the Roberts Avenue pedestrian gate,’’ she said.
‘‘At its July 2 meeting, the council decided to submit a development application for installation of safety screens as recommended by the independent study and decided that due to potential safety concerns, to immediately lock the pedestrian access gates along Roberts Avenue and Balmoral Road, Mortdale.
‘‘Until the safety concerns are resolved, the 14th tee has remained closed, with the exception of Saturdays, Sunday and pennant days.
‘‘There are still instances of unauthorised use of this tee, which council is currently addressing.’’
It is thought the council will reopen the trail once the safety screens are in place.
Oatley MP Mark Coure said locking the gates without notifying the community was a bad decision and should be overturned.
‘‘Many local residents [have used] the walking trail for over 20 years and to not notify them that these gates have closed ... is just wrong,’’ he said. ‘‘I have written to the mayor and general manager and asked that Hurstville Council look at this decision again and maybe this time consult.’’
Should Hurstville Council reopen the walking trail?