A GROUP opposing the state's first completed proposal for a rail trail from Tumbarumba to Rosewood staged a public meeting to discuss ramifications of the development.
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The NSW government allocated money for rail trails for the first time, but a workshop hosted by Rail Trails For NSW in Sydney on Tuesday gave no indication as to what lines would become available or when.
Anti-rail trail committee chairman Bob Burgen maintains Tumbarumba Council failed to gauge ratepayers' opinions prior to endorsing the application backed by NSW Farmers and member for Albury Greg Aplin.
"We believe council should have done this meeting, but they just kept putting it back," he said of Friday night's meeting that drew 110 in Rosewood.
"Council endorsed it with no public or ratepayers (thoughts).
"They just went ahead and endorsed it."
Mr Burgen said the meeting doubled as an information session with people asking questions from the floor.
"Council already made their mind up," he said.
"It's going to turn out to be political.
"A lot of people at the meeting were unclear as to what it would mean for landholders."
A total of 185 people signed a petition earlier in the year opposing the development, which was forwarded to the transport minister Gladys Berejiklian.
Mr Burgen has 200 sheed and 50 head of cattle that could be stuck on either side of the track without water if the development goes ahead.
He estimated the proposed trail cut through 20 properties and only a few of those were in favour.
"I wouldn't mind seeing the rail back on it," he said.
"We knew when it (rail) was coming (three times a week), so if we had to shift sheep, we'd time ourselves between rail times."
Mr Burgen doesn't oppose tourism but believes the community should benefit from such a significant development.
"I'm not against tourism if it bought a million dollars into the town each year, but we can't see that happening," he said.
"The riders and walkers (are) not going to come into town and eat cream buns at all the cafes after walking 22.5km."