The good news just keeps rolling in for the Tweed Section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail with the Tweed Council NRRT Project team winning the Conservation-Landscape category section in the National Trust Heritage Awards. This is great news on top of the public approval of the rail trails with visitor numbers well exceeding what was expected.
NRRT Project Director Iain Lonsdale said the Rail Trails win in the Conservation –Landscape category was a testament to the commitment and dedication invested in preserving and showcasing the rail, natural and culture heritage aspects of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.
This week at the Kingscliff Business Chamber the theme was “Gold Coast Airport, Tourism & The Rail Trail” which had guest speakers Amelia Evans (CEO Gold Coast Airport), Cameron Arnold (Chair of Destination North Coast NSW), Michael Thurston (GM Destination North Coast NSW), Brad Nardi (GM The Tweed Tourism Company) and Tim Coen (President Rail Trails for NSW). Stepping in for Nicole Manderson, Program Leader, Destination & Industry Development who was unable to attend due to illness, was Bob Anthony, Industry Development Officer from the Tweed Shire Council.
The event was put together by Chamber President Councilor James Owen from the Tweed Shire Council and all speakers and attendees were all heaping praise on the rail trail construction and popularity.
All were in agreement that the future success of the rail trail will be in seeing the other sections (which are under construction and planning) completed. The overwhelming opinion was that for the rail trail to reach its full potential it will need to be completed in its entirety. This may take some time, especially with the granting of a license to a private company Northern Rivers Rail Ltd to do a study of the rail corridor in the Byron Shire to bring back the train service.
Destination North Coast Chair Cameron Arnold spoke of government funding for rail trails saying that there is only a limited amount of funding available with many worthwhile and well-prepared rail trail groups seeking funding. He said that that groups need to be well prepared and to continue lobbying governments for funding.
On a more positive note, it was refreshing to hear Gold Coast Airport CEO Amelia Evans talking about the airport’s journey back from the Covid lockdowns and border closures. She spoke of how overnight how all the international and domestic tourism ground to a halt and of employees that lost their employment. She had a positive vision of the future and how the Gold Coast Airport wanted to be seen as an international and domestic gateway to the Northern Rivers Rail Trail. It was refreshing to hear a CEO talking of connectivity to the airport in the future of cycling paths and both heavy and light rail connections to the airport from both sides of the border. The newly completed $500 million international terminal uniquely includes a line through the baggage hall marking the border of QLD and NSW which is sure to be popular for photos.
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Register for news updatesCampaspe Shire Council have recently provided an update on the Rushworth Rail Trail project which is on track for comple...
A celebration on 25 November on the trail at Mossiface will mark the completion of a series of major upgrades to the ico...
Parkrun is a free, community event where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate. Many of these events take place ...
Running a marathon is a big enough challenge, but running three marathons in a day is a massive feat of endurance. That...
The committee for Boorowa to Galong Rail Trail Inc has made a significant leap towards realization of the Boorowa Galo...
The unstoppable Yarra Ranges Council have been at it again, with pedestrian-activated traffic lights installed at the in...
November UPDATE: Unfortunately the soft opening in December has been postponed due to bridge program being delayed. It w...
What is the situation with numerous rail trail proposals in the southern highlands of NSW? In October, Rail Trails Austr...
City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson officially opened The Bunny Trail on Tuesday 24 October. The “Bunny Trail” prov...
Some of our more mature rail trails are looking at ways to enhance visitor experience to increase visitations. This incl...
Join the Upper Yarra Valley Historical Society’s slow paced bicycle ride from Warburton to Yarra Junction along th...
A few small changes to the Amy Gillett Rail Trail in South Australia have occurred in recent months that will make ridin...
The District Council of Mt Remarkable has completed the final stage of the Southern Flinders Rail Trail, the 28km Booler...
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4 comments on “More good news awards and accolades for the Northern Rivers Rail Trail”
Great news all round. Many of my friends on the Sunshine Coast have made the trek down with our bikes and one for one we have loved it! We are all avidly waiting for the next bit to be opened. We’ll make the trek again to NRRT and do it all over again meanwhile!
It was great to see Stephen Brown, RTA Northern Rivers rep. at his RTA info table at the Business Kingscliff event. An early start to what proved to be an unseasonably cold, wet and windy day, yet it was well attended and a worthwhile event.
"……the granting of a license to a private company Northern Rivers Rail Ltd to do a study of the rail corridor in the Byron Shire to bring back the train service."
NSW Gov will not put any $$$ into a boutique rail service, even if the so-called one-year 'study' presents a favourable case.
What a waste of time!
I agree Dennis. I suspect the 'licence' granted is the same any person can apply for to access a defunct NSW trail route. I cannot see how a train or light rail service limited to a single track corridor that's been out of service for almost 20 years with defunct stations, signalling, road level crossings and many degraded or missing viaducts and which will need to run to a constricted timetable and employ many people can compete with a 24×7, self-service shared user path, especially with the explosion in reliable and increasingly affordable e-boosting and easy bike hire.