In May, State Member for Morwell, Russell Northe, announced an $800,000 State Government grant to help complete the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail. Community groups have been pushing the development of this 65km rail trail from Traralgon to Stratford for over a decade now with limited funding meaning slow progress.
This funding announcement is very welcome along with the strong support now from the Latrobe City Council.
The eastern section of the rail trail is open from Heyfield to Stratford but the key is to connect the major regional centre of Traralgon at the other end. However just out of Traralgon is the Latrobe River with some major (expensive) bridges.
The Latrobe City Council has applied for $2.3 million in funding under the Federal Government’s Regional Development Australia program, based on the boost from the state funding.
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said he was a keen supporter of local rail trails.
He has written to the Regional Development Minister highlighting the value of the project to the region. The application is seeking funding to restore and upgrade bridges between Traralgon and Glengarry, enhance the western entry to the township of Maffra; and to manage vegetation and other assets along the trail.
“The Gippsland Plains Rail Trail is the only rail trail in the state that has an operating railway station at each end,” Mr Chester said.
“When completed cycling enthusiasts would be able to catch a train from Melbourne to their preferred starting point (Traralgon or Stratford) along the route, ride the trail and then return by train to their starting point.
“Completing the trail would create significant economic benefits for towns along the route. It’s estimated that 3500 local riders would use the trail on weekends and there would also be spin-off benefits for towns along the route.”
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Register for news updatesCampaspe Shire Council recently awarded Northern Construction Group the contract to build approximately 10km of gravel c...
We’re inviting you to attend what may be the largest gathering ever of rail trail volunteers and supporters at our...
On Monday, 2 September a very excited and proud Castlemaine Maryborough Rail Trail group celebrated the exciting announc...
The Great Victorian Rail Trail runs from Tallarook to Mansfield in Victoria’s High Country, with a branch line to ...
The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) have been working on the 7km section of the Atherton Tablel...
The Hunter Joint Organisation of Councils in NSW is made up of the ten local councils that cover the entire Hunter regio...
Volunteers of all ages have planted over 20,000 trees and shrubs along the popular Gippsland Plains Rail Trail (Victoria...
The Great Southern Rail Trail‘s extension to Yarram is now officially open! The new 21-kilometre section brings th...
A section of the Camperdown-Timboon Rail Trail is closed for the rest of the year while contractors undertake the diffic...
In 2021 a severe storm impacted the Trentham area, including the much loved Domino Rail Trail in country Victoria. A loc...
We wish to clear our items remaining in stock ASAP and a limited selection are available for immediate processing and de...
The 33 kilometre Beechworth to Yackandandah section of the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail in north east Victoria has bee...
The Wonthaggi Station Museum Precinct has recently received a major lift with a number of actions completed. These inclu...
On 31 July 2024 around 150 people attended the launch of Friends of NERT, which replaces “NERT Inc.” to enco...
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