NSW Rail Trails legislation approved
Legislation to make it easier to approve new rail trails in NSW has been passed by both houses of the NSW Parliament, with the NSW Legislative Assembly voting in favour on 10 August.
The legislation enables the Minister for Transport to grant 30-year leases to local governments on disused government-owned NSW rail corridors for tourism purposes. Abandoned rail lines on ex-government corridors in NSW are currently regarded as non-operational but not closed. Previously, each rail trail proposal in NSW required a separate act of Parliament to “close” and re-purpose the corridor, resulting in political blockages to progress. This has now been addressed in the new rules, with a simpler process.
The visible success of the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail in southern NSW, which opened in April 2020 during the COVID pandemic and was formally opened in April 2021, has been the major driver of this much-needed change in the NSW rules for rail trails. Rail Trails Australia commends the community groups who worked tirelessly for their achievement in being the catalyst for change.
Both major parties in the NSW Parliament supported the legislation. Rail trail proposals will still need to have demonstrated local community support and a positive business case. Local councils will continue to play a pivotal role.
Rail Trails Australia welcomes the new legislation as a positive development for the future of rail trails in NSW, which remains behind other States and other countries in realising the many benefits that rail trails offer. We also thank all of you who answered our call to action on 29 July before the legislation was formally voted on in the NSW Parliament and enabled it to be passed so relatively quickly after many years of lobbying.
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More News
This week, we received the tragic news that the Mullumbimby railway station on the old Northern Rivers Railway was destr...
If you would like to be able to wheel your bike onto new NSW country trains to get to rail trails please contact the NSW...
The Feasibility Study for the Boorowa to Galong Rail Trail (BGRT) in south west NSW was completed in November 2022. The ...
The iconic Northern Rivers Rail Trail keeps rolling on! On the occasion of the opening of the Casino to Bentley stag...
As part of its ongoing advocacy work and community engagement, the Castlemaine Maryborough Rail Trail Inc. Group recentl...
The Adelaide to Port Dock railway line was constructed in 1856 to service the passenger and freight movement between the...
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While most of the work extending the Great Southern Rail Trail from Welshpool to Alberton had been completed by the end ...
The long-awaited New England Rail Trail (NERT) stage 1 from Glen Innes to Ben Lomond in northern NSW is now a very big s...
An extension to the Amy Gillett Rail Trail will go ahead after a funding agreement was reached. Stage Four of the Amy Gi...
Riders and walkers will soon have another escape from the very popular Warburton Rail Trail courtesy of a program to cle...
On the 24 February the Atherton district and beyond saw members of the running and outdoor fraternity enjoying an inform...
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2 comments on “NSW Rail Trails legislation approved”
This is wonderful news for we in NSW who love rail trails and who have looked with envy across our borders at more enlightened states. Thank you to all involved. We have been waiting a long time.
Tremendous news!
Well done RTA and everyone connected with this breakthrough decision.