NSW needs your help!
New South Wales, a state with over 2000km of prospective rail trails but only 146km open to date, is at a crucial point.
In late June 2022, the NSW government took three important steps towards faster rail trail development:
- The post-construction report on the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail was published, showing positive outcomes on almost all measures – Tumbarumba report
- A Rail Trail Framework document was also released, providing requirements and guidelines for the development of rail trails in NSW – NSW Framework
- Draft legislation to allow the NSW government to grant leases to local councils on rail corridors for selected purposes including trail construction was introduced into the NSW parliament – Draft NSW legislation
The draft legislation comes before the NSW upper house again on 9 August. Rail Trails Australia welcomes the new direction that the NSW government is taking. We need your help now to show the NSW parliament that rail trails have wide community support.
Currently rail trail development in NSW is hampered by several factors including the need for individual NSW state legislation to be passed to “close” each abandoned rail line. The proposed legislation will remove the need for individual bills to be passed. The proposed legislation is a very important enabler for future rail trail development in NSW.
Many regional towns in NSW continue to miss out on significant economic and community benefits that rail trails bring, a situation that is now also confirmed by the NSW government’s own Tumbarumba report.
Your help is needed! There are reports of some opposition so please email or write a letter to NSW parliamentarians, especially those in the Legislative Council (upper house), in support of the proposed legislation and rail trails before 9 August. We need to show the elected leaders in NSW that the vast majority of citizens in NSW and across Australia support NSW rail trails, the same support as shown “in the flesh” in Tumbarumba.
You can find a list of Legislative Council members HERE
To show your support for NSW rail trails, send emails to:
- The Minister sponsoring the proposed legislation: The Hon Sam Farraway, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads; email: sam.farraway@parliament.nsw.gov.au
- The President of the NSW Legislative Council: The Hon Matthew Mason-Cox; email: officeofthepresident@parliament.nsw.gov.au
- The Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council: The Hon Penelope Sharpe; email: penny.sharpe@parliament.nsw.gov.au
For NSW supporters, please include your local NSW member of the NSW Legislative Assembly
If you have time, email other Members of the Legislative Council, especially those in minor parties.
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More News
Campaspe 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...
Construction of Australia’s soon to be longest rail trail has recently gained momentum, with the Palaszczuk Government...
A very interesting and environmentally important project has commenced at the Waranga Basin. The Campaspe Shire Counci...
A new section of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT) has recently opened from Moore to the historic Moore Linville Cem...
One comment on “NSW needs your help!”
I am very happy to support this idea. I drive past so many abandoned sections of railways and the towns along the way. Would love to ride these as rail trails and spend my money along the way. Rail Trails preserve these corridors, not destroy