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Register for news updatesNSW’s New England Rail Trail Closer to Reality
Armidale Regional Council’s councillors have voted in favour 6 votes to 2 to proceed towards completing the required framework to seek NSW Government approval to construct the New England Rail Trail (NERT) between Armidale and Wallangarra.
Before the vote, Rail Trails Australia and the Friends of the NERT demonstrated the community support to the Council for this significant policy move, for which Council needs to be congratulated. Hopefully this support and resulting decision assists in getting another much-needed rail trail progressed in NSW.
Key points in the motion included stage 1 being capped at the existing approved budget ($497,800) of rate payers’ funds and stage 2 not being able to begin until $585,700 in external funding is secured. NSW Government officials must confirm the corridor’s long-term viability for rail, its current physical condition, and whether it’s suitable for future transport or local tourism purposes.
Recently, Glen Innes Severn Council – which shares the railway corridor – released their Draft Glen Innes Highlands Destination Management Plan 2026-2030 which lists NERT as one of several tourism initiatives: “planned to attract more visitors to the Glen Innes Highlands; increase visitor spend; grow visitors’ average length of stay; enhance visitor experiences; and increase the destination’s profile as an Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark.”
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4 comments on “NSW’s New England Rail Trail Closer to Reality”
We just did a road trip from Adelaide to Canberra over 10 weeks – only spending a couple of weeks in NSW because there are basically no rail trails there. On the way we rode Rail Trails/bike paths on the Mornington Peninsula, East Gippsland, South Gippsland, Lakes Entrance, Bright, Yackandanah and Mansfield to Tallarook. On the way we pumped lots of money into local shops, cafes, restaurants, wineries, hotels and the economy. I would happily do the same in NSW, New England, if there were rail trails and or safe bike trails worth riding. Build the trails and people will detour to come to your region – us and our friend included.
Hopefully this does become a reality. I’m from Sydney and have ridden rail trails in Victoria and Tasmania plus of course the Northern Rivers. Being retired and still fit enough (ebike helps) plus having a ute and back up drivers myself and friends from Tas and NSW want this to ride before our Tamworth mate who is 83 can’t ride anymore.
We usually stay at country pubs and aren’t afraid to spend a quid to enjoy our trips together.
Great to see this Rail Trail getting to the “probable” stage. The possibilities for the region are immense. Overnight accommodation will contribute to the economies of several villages and towns along the route. I hope that I will not be tool old to enjoy this Trail when some part of it it completed!
Congratulations to all concerned in advancing this tremendously worthwhile project. Has support been forthcoming from the Federal Member for New England?