NSW Rail Trails Forum

Rail Trails supporters and representatives from across Australia met in Tumbarumba on 9 April 2021 to discuss how to make faster progress on rail trail development in New South Wales. Over 70 people attended the forum, coming from all parts of NSW and interstate with the lifting of Covid-19 travel restrictions. The forum coincided with the official opening of the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail (TRRT) on 10 April, 12 months since its online launch due to Covid-19 restrictions at the time.

The NSW Rail Trails Forum was organised by Dr Dennis Puniard, Vice President of the Molonglo Rail Trail group in collaboration with Rail Trail Australia, with sponsorship from Snowy Valleys Council.

Speakers included Cr James Hayes (Mayor of Snowy Valleys Council), the Hon Justin Clancy (NSW MLA for Albury) and Greg Aplin (former NSW MLA for Albury and a key figure in supporting and approving the TRRT).

Local groups then detailed the construction of the rail trail finishing with Ron Frew from the Tumbarumba Historical Society linking the railway (opened in 1921) to the present day, including conclusive evidence that cycling was as popular then as it is now!

The Forum heard updates from rail trail advocacy groups around NSW, and importantly from Richie Robinson (Manager, Tourism Programs for the NSW Department of Regional NSW) who confirmed that the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail will be evaluated in the next 3-4 months against the economic and community acceptance targets that were set when the project was approved.

RTA has complied all the presentation material as lots of valuable information, contacts, and interesting photos. It can be freely downloaded at this link (86MB).

The Forum was the venue for the launch of our video showcasing business people from Tumbarumba and Rosewood talking about the positive impact that the TRRT has had, including some of the 11 new businesses that have opened in the town in the last 12 months due entirely to the rail trail’s success in attracting visitors and users.

A very successful day which ended with a dinner in the Tumbarumba Bowling Club which was the venue for the Forum.