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Register for news updatesNew England Rail Trail needs your support
We are calling on all rail trail supporters to express their support for the development of a new rail trail in NSW to add to the stunning success stories of the Tumbarumba to Rosewood and Northern Rivers Rail Trails.
On 24 April 2024, at an Armidale Regional Council (ARC) General Meeting, the motion to start work on the New England Rail Trail (NERT) was put to a vote. ARC had successfully secured $5,410,000 through the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants to commence construction on the New England Rail Trail. Extra funds were also promised to cover maintenance via a Renewable Energy Zone grant to the value of $20,000.00. After 10 years of hard work on the project it finally felt as though the dream was about to become a reality.
There were many supporters and opponents of the rail trail present at the meeting. To the supporters bewilderment, 6 Armidale Councillors voted against the commencement and instead voted in favour of a motion: “Delay the commencement of the construction of the Armidale Railway Station to Dumaresq Trail head section of the New England Rail Trail until a comprehensive report is brought to Council on the total costs to Council for the running and maintenance of both the Armidale Railway Station to Dumaresq Trailhead section and the full New England Rail Trail project”.
Cost estimates had been provided in a comprehensive Business Case Report February 2024.
Frustrated by the stalling, local supporters of the NERT put together this petition to demand Council stop the delay and commence construction before the funding expiry date.
We are urging all Rail Trail Supporters to sign the petition Here. (If you are local use this link HERE).
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More News
Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NRRT) has done it again – winning gold at the 2026 North Coast Regional Tourism Awards...
Rail Trail Australia’s (RTA) Community Grants program 2026-2027 is open and taking applications now. The scope and fun...
Grand Ridge Rail Trail Committee of Management (CoM) has installed brand new information signs along the 13km rail trail...
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT) trail manager Qld Department of Transport and Main Roads has just completed a 10km sur...
Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) is asking for public support to reopen Lapstone Tunnel in the lower Blue Mountains. R...
Show your support for Rail Trails Australia by purchasing from our range of branded Rail Trails Australia clothing inclu...
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Rail Trails Australia’s (RTA) Eastern Victoria representative John Birrell attended the July launch of the Great S...
The clearing of part of the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail (BBIRT), from Barrimoon to Barrimoon Rd, towards Kalpowar, h...
Public consultation conducted by Armidale Regional Council in June 2026 resulted in 85% of formal submissions supporting...
Rail Trails Australia Community Grants Program has funded Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail to purchase 3 storyboard-style...
Rail Trails Australia (RTA) is delighted to announce that South Burnett Rail Trail Users Association Inc. were successfu...
Bass Coast Shire Council has completed important upgrade works on a bridge along the Bass Coast Rail Trail near Dalyston...
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4 comments on “New England Rail Trail needs your support”
There are two petitions – one for residents of New England which is titled Support the New England Rail Trail and one for all other supporters of our new trail titled Get Behind the New England Rail trail. We had to have a local one as evidence of local resident support. Both petitions will be given to Armidale Regional Council. We are hoping that the amendment to delay construction will be overturned at their meeting on 13th May. Local support has been phenomenal – 4000 signatures in four days. Please share the Get Behind… petition on your FB/Instagram pages so we can build the numbers to demonstrate national support. Check the location box as it defaults to other towns. Change.org uses donations to promote the petition more widely. You can skip that bit.
Donated! This is such a great idea to revitalise all the abandoned railways across this country for tourism, which brings in far more money to local communities than mining/ military activities in every case. Change.org is definitely NOT a scam, unlike the Murdoch newspapers and their online sites.
Be careful donating your money to the petition web site. It looks and smells like a scam
Rail Trail Cycleways / Walkways – Providing a safe and exciting experience for all ages. I strongly support the introduction of Rail Trail Cycleways.