It will not be able to follow the original rail line as a couple of kilometres of it bisect the RAAF base, where it separates the working and administration area from the domestic area.

The trail would need to be routed either along the Sturt Highway in front of the base or to the south through more farmland.

AFTER a life-long involvement in rugby league, I have become very disenchanted with the game at the NRL level.

I hate to say that it has become boring, predictable and lacking any form of imagination. Players have been turned into robots.

I laughed aloud when a Sydney journalist demanded the inclusion of young Penrith player Bryce Cartwright in the State of Origin team.

The scribe announced that Cartwright has 36 offloads in the first 16 rounds.

Wow! Can you believe that! That's an average of just over two off loads per match. Arthur Beetson would have done that many in one game, not 16 rounds.

It's enough to drive a man to drink.

ON LORD Baden Powell Drive, you need to be prepared as the eastern end, at the intersection with Lake Albert Drive, is a breeding ground of potholes.

No matter if you go straight ahead, left or right, there are potholes and loose gravel from all the previous patches that have broken up.

This intersection has already seen some bad accidents and now with the uneven surfaces and loose gravel, it is even more dangerous.

This piece of road was completely “rehabilitated” less than three years ago. This was supposed to last for 20 years.

The road was completely closed for six weeks so an excellent job could be done.

Now, ratepayers are footing the bill for council road repair teams having to repatch the patches every couple of weeks.

The road only gets light traffic – what was the problem with the original work? Council – please try again but get it right this time.

CONGRATULATIONS to the Wagga Rail Trail group for their action to develop this long talked about asset for Wagga and surrounds.

Rail trails have numerous benefits for safe recreation and commuting for the community and visitors.

Regrettably, there are a few negative voices raising concerns over privacy, vandalism, biosecurity and cost.

These same concerns were originally raised in Victoria and that forward thinking state now has a large network of rail trails.

I can find no reports of rail trail users causing problems in Victoria.

I urge those who doubt the value of rail trails to visit one in Victoria and talk to the locals before opposing the Wagga to Ladysmith route.

Please allow me room in your publication to advise of the Young High School 40 year reunion to be held on October 15 at Young Golf Club.

This reunion is for students who attended from first form in 1973 to fourth form in 1976. I am contactable on legs59@bigpond.net.au or by phone on 0409 130 589.