http://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/story/4820832/could-a-rail-trail-rejuvenate-the-region

With some great images if the viaduct in Manilla from the Leaders photographer, Gareth Gardner.

manilla express 1 august 2017

The NSW Upper House passed amendments almost unanimously (35 FOR and only 2 against) to the ‘TRANSPORT ADMINISTRATION AMENDMENT (CLOSURE OF RAILWAY LINE BETWEEN ROSEWOOD AND TUMBARUMBA) BILL 2017’

The amendment was moved by the Hon. Mick Veitch MLC, a consistent advocate for rail trails in our state. It gained great support not only within the Labor Party but across the political spectrum.

We thank the Labor Party, Mick Veitch, Jodi McKay and Penny Sharpe for this important amendment which gets the process RIGHT for this and future rail trails, ensuring these valuable routes are retained in public ownership for generations to come. See the attached press release.

This outcome will restore the faith of many Rail Trail supporters around the State in our Parliamentary system. It demonstrates that multiple parties can deliver outcomes that will benefit the people of regional NSW and thus all the citizens of NSW.

Rail Trails for NSW also thanks the local member for Albury, Mr Greg Aplin (Lib) for his great support and work in helping bring the Tumba rail trail so close to fruition.  We also thank the Government of NSW, for initiating and backing the pilot rail trail process. There have been many Government members, both Liberal and National Party, who’ve worked to bring it this far, including former Deputy Premier Stoner,  current Deputy Premier Barilaro, Minister Constance and former Transport Minister now Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Special thanks to the former member for Ballina, Don Page.

Rail Trails must also acknowledge and thank The Christian Democrats, who have been consistent yet quiet achievers. Their practical advice, good counsel and assistance has been most appreciated and been a great help in bringing about this great outcome for the people of NSW.

We must also acknowledge and give great thanks to the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail team, their local council and all their supporters in and around the Tumbarumba district.

This is their success and it is no ‘overnight’ event.  Several of the the Tumba to Rosewood team have been working to bring the rail trail into reality for almost 14 years!   Congratulations.  

And thank you dear supporter of NSW rail trails. There is still a long way to go and you can still help mightily,

by ensuring the Tumba to Rosewood rail trail is a great success and

by being active supporters of your local rail trail team wherever it is around this large and beautiful state.

A government bill to close the disused rail line between Tumbarumba – Rosewood has been introduced in to the NSW parliament – by Andrew Constance,  Minister for Transport and Infrastructure.  A high number of parliamentarians spoke to the bill and favourably to the development of Rail Trails in NSW. The Legislative Review Committee process has indicated some wording amendment would provide greater certainty as to closure of the line for it future purpose as a public rail trail.  Rail Trails for NSW hope this view will be attended to in the upper house deliberations.

Thanks to Path Less Pedaled for this great animation – focus is in America – but there are many similarities to Australia – in terms of small towns, spread different distances apart.

Check out other work of pathlesspedaled.com a small team collecting stories and narratives on the impact of travel by bicycle and cycling related tourism.

Cooma Monaro Express news

read the full article at Rail_Trails_CM_Express_30_7_2_15 (2)

     Canberra Times July 2015

rail trail workshop in Nimmitabel

Interested people from Michelago, Bredbo, Cooma, Nimmitabel and Bombala met at a rail trails workshop held in Nimmitabel on July 25th 2015. They were joined by members of Rail Trails for NSW who are advocating for the development of Rail Trails on disused government lines – adding to the rural visitor economy and increasing amenities in the rural towns. Attendees were able understand key steps to start with such as having a feasibility study undertaken, and to learn from other rail trail teams in southern NSW who have completed detailed design documentation or in the process of having their feasibility study undertaken.

Nimmitabel old meatworks

Disused government line in the Monaro

Site visits to sections of the disused line were arranged including to the Colinton tunnel; to Chakola, to the old buildings of the Nimmitabel meatworks, as well as to each of the station buildings along the routes. For Rail Trails NSW it was a great opportunity to hear and see firsthand what might be specific opportunities and issues on a rail trail in the Monaro district, including stunning rural vistas; towns with their own individual flavour; railway heritage; weed management and fencing.

Colinton Tunnel

April 2015: The visit to Broken Hill by RT for NSW chairman John Moore was part of our efforts increase peoples knowledge about rails trails, what they can add to local amenity and to visitor economies. The meeting in Broken Hill connected local people and groups interested having the trail continued to Silverton and eventually Cockburn. The visit included checking out parts of the tramway track that are used for mountain biking. The meeting was covered by a couple of articles in the local paper The Barrier Daily Truth.

 Sharing ideas on the tourism, town and community develeopment opportunities rails trails can add to a district.  A Rail Trails event and dinner was held at Courabyra Wines tasting and function room http://www.courabyrawines.com/ in Tumbarumba, with people involved in developing rail trails in a number of southern NSW regions – Goulburn – Crookwell RT,  Gundagai RT ( Coolac – Tumblong),  Tumbarumba – Rosewood RT , Tumut – Batlow RT as well as a group from the High Country Rail Trail in Victoria(Tallangatta – Wodonga).

10 members of Rail Trails for NSW visited the Historic Gundagai Rail Precinct – the amount of facinating railway history is fantastic – this level of preservation (thanks to the local volunteers ) this is just type of local and railway heritiage that would be a key attracter of people visiting Gundagai to walk or ride the trail.  

Photos: Nathan the caretaker of the historic station and rail heritage a gave an informative tour;  John Moore , RT for NSW Chairman –  wanting to run the ticket booth;   Alison, RT for NSW secretary – checking the historic records at the station office.