Proposed NSW ‘Rail Trails’ Legislation Amended
As noted in an earlier news item, in September 2009 the NSW Transport Minister, Mr David Campbell, introduced legislation into Parliament to enable the construction of rail trails in NSW on disused government railway lines.
The minister has shown his genuine support for rail trails by amending the legislation to address sections that caused significant community concern. The amendments will mean:
- the actual corridor land itself will not be able to be sold (only old tracks and sleepers etc on the corridors), and
- nothing will be able to be done to an old line unless train services have ceased for over 15 years ago.
This legislation is a vital step in allowing NSW communities to enjoy the benefits of rail trails like those in all the other states and overseas. And there are some wonderful rail trails proposed that when developed will be able to be enjoyed by all Australians. Refer List here.
Once again, now is the time for all rail trail supporters to contact the government, opposition parties and the media, and express your support for the development of rail trails on disused rail corridors NOW.
Contact:
Minister Campbell and thank him for having the courage and foresight to introduce this legislation and listen to community concerns.
The shadow Minister for Transport, Ms Gladys Berejiklian
The Greens’ Ms Lee Rhiannon MLC
The Greens support an expansion of cycling infrastructure and retention of rail corridors.
The leader of the Nationals in the upper house Mr Duncan Gay MLC
We understand the Victorian Nationals have been long-term supporters of Rail Trails and bicycle infrastructure in regional communities and would hope that the NSW Nationals can do the same.
The corridors, which local groups have been working on for many years to have rail trails developed, have been disused for at least several decades. Using a corridor as a rail trails ensures that what is left of them now is preserved (some have already been cut by development). The legislation specifically allows for a rail service to be restored should the need arise.
The following documents were provided by the Transport Minister’s office.
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More News
On 24 March, Rail Trails Australia hosted the 2023 Rail Trails Forum in Murwillumbah NSW, timed to coincide with the Com...
The Tweed region in northern NSW celebrated the opening of the first section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail in a big ...
Come and walk or ride the Great Southern Rail Trail at the official opening event for the extension between Nyora to Leo...
The O’Keefe Challenge is gearing up for its annual Light the Rail Trail on Saturday 29 April 2023. The annual event ...
The Castlemaine Maryborough Rail Trail Inc (CMRT) have taken a visionary and courageous step to create a short film to b...
Over 130 cyclists of various ages and abilities enjoyed a bike ride in perfect conditions along the Great Victorian Rail...
Planning for the new Somerville to Baxter shared path as part of the Peninsula Trail project is progressing well. The B...
Rail Trails Australia Central Queensland rep Desley O’Grady made a flying visit to Hervey Bay recently to inspect ...
Are you a keen caravanner? Are you also a cyclist? The March edition of the Caravan World magazine has a theme of family...
The Copper Coast Rail Trail between Kadina and Wallaroo was constructed in 2017. The 17km extension of the trail from Wa...
It’s time to bring the community together for the official celebration weekend of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail. On S...
The Wadandi Track (formerly known as the Busselton-Flinders Bay Rail Trail) is a partially complete rail trail in WA’s...
There was a palpable sense of history being made in Murwillumbah NSW this morning, as the Tweed section of the Northern ...
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