BUSHFIRES and coronavirus have caused complications, but the people of Tarana say their village has been improved since they got a Bathurst Bullet stop.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The Bathurst Bullet daily return service to Sydney pulled into Tarana station for the first time in September last year to a celebration breakfast and a brass band welcome.
"There have been significant disruptions along the way due to fires in December, then flood damage to the tracks in February, followed by COVID-19 restrictions over the past few months," Tarana Valley Community Group president Richard Rollo said.
"Despite these setbacks, the community really appreciates the fact that it is there for us when we need it.
"More people have been coming on board over the last few weeks with the easing of social distancing and the start of a weekday connecting bus service to Tarana from Oberon."
James Pender, who has been living in the Tarana area for the past three months while working remotely for the NSW Crown Solicitors, said the Bullet stop had "been a game-changer".
"I just wouldn't have been able to manage work from here without being able to get back to Sydney once a week on the Bullet," he said.
"It's a great service to have."
Mr Rollo said it was also exciting to see Sydney Trains doing remedial work on the station building and "we hope they'll soon reopen the toilets and the waiting room for the growing number of commuters".
"Our group would also like to see the old stationmaster's house and surrounding land returned to community use.
"It's really just neglected waste land as it is now, but it has the potential to be a key part of the village centre."
The Tarana markets are due to start up again at the end of July, according to Annie Cook from the markets committee.
She said she can see possibilities for the popular monthly markets to make use of this last remaining piece of public space in the town centre.
"We have had thoughts of putting on a night market and running some more heritage train events," she said.
"It would be great to be able to use the station house and surrounding land for events like this as well as for our regular markets."
With Tarana and now Oberon commuters using the station precinct, "we should take the opportunity to bring this area back into public use", Mr Rollo said.
