On the 23rd of September 2009 the NSW Transport Minister, Mr David Campbell, introduced legislation into Parliament that will enable the construction of rail trails in NSW on disused government railway lines.
At the moment this is prohibited so this legislation is a vital step in allowing NSW communities to enjoy the benefits of rail trails like those in all the other states and overseas. And there are some wonderful rail trails proposed that when developed will be able to be enjoyed by all Australians. Refer List here.
However the legislation is facing opposition, critically in the upper house. Now is the time for all rail trail supporters to write to the government, opposition parties and the media, and express your support for the development of rail trails on disused rail trails NOW.
Write to Minister Campbell and thank him for having the courage and foresight to introduce this timely and necessary change.
Write to the Greens’ Ms Lee Rhiannon MLC
The Greens support an expansion of cycling infrastructure and retention of rail corridors.
Write to the leader of the Nationals in the upper house Mr Duncan Gay MLC
We understand the Victorian Nationals have been long-term supporters of Rail Trails and bicycle infrastructure in regional communities and would hope that the NSW Nationals can do the same.
The corridors, which local groups have been working on for many years to have rail trails developed, have been disused for at least several decades. Using a corridor as a rail trails ensures that what is left of them now is preserved (some have already been cut by development). The legislation specifically allows for a rail service to be restored should the need arise.
The following questions and answers were provided by the Transport Minister’s office. A link to the proposed legislation follows.
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Register for news updatesThe community have the opportunity to provide direct feedback to assist the Mt Alexander Shire Council in partnership wi...
The City of Greater Bendigo will shortly commence a project to construct and install public toilets, bike hoops, new par...
A large crowd turned out today (Friday 26 May) on a beautiful morning at Trawool Estate for the official launch of the A...
On Wednesday 10 May 2023 a public-information session was held for community members to view and discuss the plans for r...
The duplication of Main South Road from Seaford to Sellicks Beach has commenced and will include a 16km off-road shared ...
The Bunny Rail Trail is a new trail under development between Ballarat and Buninyong in Western Victoria. Walkers, runne...
The good news just keeps rolling in for the Tweed Section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail with the Tweed Council NRRT ...
On 17 May 2023, Cessnock City Council unanimously approved the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) and associated repo...
The third South Burnett Express Rail Trail Relay, run from Kingaroy to Wondai (on the Kilkivan – Kingaroy Rail Tra...
The catchily-named Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail will have its 800m extension from Edenmont Rd to Belgrave-Gembrook Rd ...
The Coast to Vines Rail Trail in South Australia now has a new side trail called the Flat to Vale Trail and while it is ...
The Australian and South Australian governments have jointly (50:50) funded $400m for the removal of level crossings whe...
The Great Victorian Rail Trail (GVRT) Art Installation Project is on track to be completed by the end of April as planne...
The Yarra Valley Trail (YVT) stage 1a opened a few years ago and is now heavily used and embraced by the community. Not ...
The official opening of the Nyora to Leongatha section of the Great Southern Rail Trail was held on Saturday, 1 April. T...
On 24 March, Rail Trails Australia hosted the 2023 Rail Trails Forum in Murwillumbah NSW, timed to coincide with the Com...