Express your support for the “On Formation” construction of the Tweed Valley Rail Trail

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.