Construction of theTweed Valley section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail in NSW is near, and it must be “on formation” — in other words, on the old railway alignment itself rather than beside the former rail line — to take advantage of gentle, even gradients and to be accessibile to the whole community.
June 2021 Update
Another milestone in the construction of Stage One Tweed Valley – Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek. The four tenders that were received by Tweed Shire Council all advise that the rail trail should be built on top of the formation in its majority.
If you haven’t already emailed your support for an formation rail trail please do so this weekend before the council meeting next week. Suggested wording below and email addresses further down.
Dear Councillor ….
Thank you so much for your work on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail and meeting yet another milestone in the construction of Stage One Tweed Valley – Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek. I’m pleased to see that of the four tenders that were received by Tweed Shire Council that each one of them has advised that the Rail Trail should be built on top of the formation in its majority.
I encourage the council to accept the tender with the majority of the Rail Trail on the formation as this is the preferred model for Rail Trails around the world, attracting visitors all over to our beautiful region. The benefits to the community economically, environmentally, socially and for Tweed’s community’s health, will be recognised for years to come because of the decisions that you make at this month‘s meeting.
The tenders are now in and you have the opportunity to present a World-class attraction to visitors and tourist around the world, to open up business opportunities within your Shire, promoting active healthy lifestyles for your residents.
I look forward to the next milestone being met – the beginning of construction and to, in the new year, be able to celebrate the first ride on this terrific project.
May 2021
Construction of theTweed Valley section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail in NSW is near, and it must be “on formation” — in other words, on the old railway alignment itself rather than beside the former rail line — to take advantage of gentle, even gradients and to be accessibile to the whole community.
The Tweed Valley Rail Trail will be one of Australia’s best, with the terrain that once made operating trains slow and difficult providing an amazing experience for rail trail users passing through winding valleys and tunnels and across numerous rivers.
Rail Trails Australia supports rail side trails (a trail besides a railway line) where the terrain is suitable, but the Tweed Valley’s 25 bridges, 2 tunnels and many long cuttings and embankments simply makes this impracticable.
Some public events have pushed for the rail trail to be off-formation to keep the derelict rail track. This would be a bad outcome for all, with a poor quality rail trail — and, of course, no trains as the NSW Government has passed legislation to close the line.
For these reasons we are encouraging all rail trail supporters to write to Tweed Shire Council explaining why this rail trail must be built on formation and to ask Council to consider this when making decisions about this valuable public asset. Let them know where you are from.
Below are the email addresses of Tweed Shire councillors.
ccherry@tweed.nsw.gov.au
rbyrnes@tweed.nsw.gov.au
pallsop@tweed.nsw.gov.au
rcooper@tweed.nsw.gov.au
kmilne@tweed.nsw.gov.au
jowen@tweed.nsw.gov.au
wpolglase@tweed.nsw.gov.au
Include a link to this video on the Tumbarumba Rail Trail https://youtu.be/6zpA31E1oFo for an example of how a high quality rail trail benefits all of the community.
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Register for news updatesAfter the recent Rail Trails Australia annual general meeting, attendees were treated to discussion from legendary cycli...
The Queensland Government has just released its third action plan under the 10-year Queensland Cycling Strategy for 2023...
The restoration of the 770m long iconic Snowy River trestle bridge on the East Gippsland Rail Trail has not been immune ...
The plan to link the Great Southern Rail Trail and Bass Coast Rail Trail at Nyora has taken a further step as tenders fo...
The extension of the Mary Valley Rail Trail (MVRT) in south-east Queensland has taken some crucial steps forward in rece...
In 2020 the Adelaide Hills Council was successful in securing $2.6m in funding from the Federal Government to complete s...
An enjoyable morning was had by nearly 350 people who attended the official opening of a new 11k section of the Mary to ...
A motion for supporting a rail trail through Byron Shire was passed by Byron Bay Council — it is a wonderful outco...
An expert study just released affirms the transformative effect a rail trail will have on the Central Victoria. The 9-...
The Batlow Tumut Rail Trail Association has announced that funding has been secured for a feasibility study update, a ke...
The 12 Apostles Trail is scheduled for completion this November. This trail extends the current 38km Camperdown to Tim...
We thoroughly enjoyed cycling the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail recently. Being from Hobart, we appreciated the companies t...
Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads has partnered with Trail Towns to create an episode that winds 161...
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