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Register for news updatesLand Buys For Richmond Vale Rail Trail
City of Newcastle has approved the acquisition of 3 properties to deliver the Richmond Vale Rail Trail (RVRT). The properties, in Minmi and Hexham, have been identified as essential for that part of the project.
The proposed rail trail runs through Cessnock, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, utilising the former private Richmond Vale coal railway and disused water pipeline corridors.
It is part of the larger “Shiraz to Shore” concept to connect the wine regions of the Hunter Valley in NSW to Newcastle’s waterfront and Lake Macquarie.
Newcastle and Cessnock councils adopted the project in their infrastructure plans from 2018, and in 2021 a Development Application was obtained for the Newcastle section. Planning for access points at Shortland and Maryland has progressed.
The conditions of the development consent require a significant amount of work to have commenced within 5 years from approval, lending urgency to the land acquisition process. City of Newcastle hopes to start construction in the 2026/27 financial year, using a combination of funding sources.
It should be noted that as the former railway was not government-owned, it is not covered by the same Framework process as other proposed rail trails in NSW. Each council is expected to construct and maintain that portion of the trail that lies within their jurisdiction, using both internal and grant funding as necessary.
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The Barossa Marathon on Sunday 23 August was a great success with perfect weather, light winds and a record 3,500 compet...
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