2019 is the year of Rail Trail construction in in NSW*
Fostering the development of rails trails on disused government rural rail lines.
We are keen for the health, mobility, economic, heritage and community connection benefits of rail trails to be realised for people living and visiting the NSW districts and towns.
CONSTRUCTION STARTS!
Turning the first sod on building the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail was marked with a community event in April 2019
Owen Fitzgerald with Justin Clancy (Local MP), Greg Aplin (Former Member) and Mayor James Hayes, turning the sod on the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail near Hyne Mill.
Newspaper image and quote from the Tumbarumba Times courtesy of Riverina Highlands Rail Trail
“Unfortunately the paper isn’t available online but we can assure you it reads well.
Excerpt: The number of people in attendance and the variety of their backgrounds demonstrated the wide ranging interest in the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail project. Many may have been surprised at the level of interest garnered but we never had any doubts it would create such a positive vibe….it just goes to show how seriously this has been treated and the level of community support in many areas has been unwavering”.
Rail Trails for NSW received a fast approval when we asked the producers if we could use their short video. The message is excellent and where you read America the same message applies in Australia.
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Rail Trails for NSW are happy to see two of the main processes occurring:
a) passing of the initial ‘line specific’ amendment to the transport administration legislation to allow a rail trail to be constructed.
b) construction of pilot rail trails
c) as part of the initial rail trail development – the establishment of government policy/guidelines relevant to rail trails eg bio-security plans/ land management requirements, destination plans/tourism promotion …
d) people in towns and districts with potential rail trails gathering local support and documenting the feasibility and design requirements, producing the business case/economic development plans of the potential rail trail in their community. Several groups are at a ‘shovel ready’ point and making the political representation and grant applications for funding.
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Rail Trails (RTs) are shared-user paths along unused railway corridors. The tracks are removed and replaced with road base, gravel or a sealed surface. They can be used for walking, cycling and horse riding. Motorised vehicles, apart from mobility scooters and wheelchairs, are excluded.
NSW is the only state in Australia that does not have Rail Trails.* With your help, we can change this.
Victoria’s Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail attracts over 30,000 bike riders per annum.
NSW has the advantage of hundreds of kilometres of unused, but well-preserved, railway corridors. These corridors will enable the development of a world renowned system of Rail Trails. Buildings and infrastructure on these corridors have fortunately been left intact, making them ideal heritage lines for walkers, bike riders and local health groups.
In 1994, a great Victorian initiative saw construction begin on the first Rail Trail in Australia. Since that time, every state in Australia, except NSW, has embraced the concept with over 100 active Rail Trails being commissioned. About 150 Shire Councils and community groups have been involved to help make this happen. Many RTs have 3 Councils working side by side to bring it together. NSW is the only state with no RTs built on a former government line*.
The small rural township of Lue, near bustling Mudgee in NSW, currently has heritage listed buildings which are unoccupied. Developing Rail Trails, which could run through such a township, would ensure a new thriving community with new business opportunities and tourism exposure.
