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Register for news updatesLismore City Council and Byron Shire Council join forces to fast-track the completion of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail
Neighbouring shires Lismore City Council and Byron Shire Council have completed an application together in a bid to secure $38 million in funding from the federal government’s Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program.
The funding will go towards completing two sections of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NRRT) in the Byron Shire, the first being Mullumbimby to Tweed (Crabbes Creek) and the second being Bangalow to Binna Burra, along with a final section in the Richmond Valley – Lismore to Eltham.
If successful, remaining still-unfunded segments of the trail would include Mullumbimby to Bangalow, including the town of Byron Bay (currently subject to a separate study), and Binna Burra to Eltham, on the Richmond Valley border. All up, the NRRT will ultimately run for 132 km, with 63km being within Byron Shire.
Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon said the rail trail will be a “game changer” for the Northern Rivers, especially for transport. “The rail trail has already been a great success for Tweed and I think it will be an even bigger success in Byron and Lismore.”
Section one of the rail trail, in the Tweed Shire (Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek – 24 km), opened 1 March 2023 and saw 146,000 users in its first 12 months. A second section, Casino to Bentley in the Richmond Valley shire, opened a year later, and will soon be connected to South Lismore station, a distance of 30 km. Connecting these two towns over that distance is expected to greatly increase overall trail usage.
Tourism expert Cameron Arnold said the Northern Rivers Rail Trail has been “an incredible success to date”. However Mr Arnold said the full impacts, which he anticipates the Lismore section will benefit the most, won’t be seen until all sections are complete.
For further information, see here.
Byron Shire – https://www.byron.nsw.gov.au/Council/Projects/Major-projects/Northern-Rivers-Rail-Trail-Byron-Shire
Lismore City Council – https://www.lismore.nsw.gov.au/Council/Projects/Current-projects-1/Northern-Rivers-Rail-Trail-Lismore-to-Bentley
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3 comments on “Lismore City Council and Byron Shire Council join forces to fast-track the completion of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail”
So good to see councils working together for our good. Can't wait to ride the new section.
We have done the Murwillumbah to Crabbes creek several times to include the Burringbar tunnel which has been greatly improved with reflectors throughout.
Casino to Bentley was a surprise to find it goes over the tunnel there rather than through it!! Can't wait for Mullum to Crabbes Creek.
Will B.
Stuart St.
Mullumbimby
Excellent news! Councils co-operating for the greater good. NRRT will be the jewel in the crown of NSW rail trails. Can't wait to ride the full Lismore to Casino section (and return) later this year, all going well.