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Register for news updatesRichmond Vale Rail Trail moves to the next step of Development
A local committee has been working on the proposed Richmond Vale Rail Trail (RVRT) between Hexham and Kurri Kurri in NSW, near Newcastle for several years. Recently the three councils involved (Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Cessnock) have decided to work together and enter the next stage of the process.
Tunnel entrance and Large Cutting
Newcastle City Council and National Parks & Wildlife Services have confirmed a contribution of $130,000 and $80,000 respectively towards completing the first stage of ‘trail development’. Contributions from Lake Macquarie City Council and Coal & Allied are yet to be confirmed. Cessnock Council would be committing a contribution of $30,000, for the environmental impact assessment and concept design stage of the proposed ‘trail development’, which would be funded from the 2015/16 Infrastructure Forward Planning budget. Additionally, Council staff resources will also be committed to participate in project coordination meetings and general project duties.
The contribution of $30,000 was determined to be appropriate by Council staff in consideration of the scale, nature and potential community benefit of the project. The $30,000 announced by Cessnock is being combined with other monies from the other two councils to fund a “conceptual design” and EIS.
It should be noted that as this was a former private railway, there are no issues with legislation that is limiting rail trail development on state owned corridors.
The cost of construction is currently estimated to be in the vicinity of $10 Million for compacted earth/gravel finish or $14 Million for bitumen/concrete finish, however, more detailed cost estimates will be prepared during the next stage of ‘trail development’.
More details and map on our trail description.
Wallis Creek Bridge
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