Receive Our Free Email News
Stay up to date with the latest news about Rail Trails with our free email news.
Register for news updatesTasmania North East Rail Trail Funding Announced
Rail Trails Australia welcomes the Federal Government’s commitment to pay $1.47 million for about half the cost of extending the scenic North East Rail trail 70 kilometre from Scottsdale to Launceston.
The Rotary club of Scottsdale constructed the first section from Tonganah to near Ledgerwood and the Dorset Council has almmost finished extending this back to the regional centre of Scottsdale. This 30km section along with the extension back to Launceston will make an approximately 100km long rail trail.
The key to this major development, which will provide Tasmania with its first major rail trail, was the growing community support. The Rotary Club’s initial work led to support from rail trail enthusiasts and then the Dorset Council. This led to the formation of the North East Rail Trail Board last year and Northern Tasmania Development proved up the business case and another supporter Bass MP Andrew Nikolic was very pleased to be able to make the funding announcement. “I congratulate the Dorset Council for the work they are doing to progress this exciting
project, which will create jobs in the construction phase and provide another boost to tourism in Northern Tasmania,” Mr Nikolic said.
A very excited North East Rail Trail Board chair Sarah Hirst said the project would bring the rail trail close to many farm and rural tourism ventures and spur new investment.in the region.
It is understood tht the Dorset Council will have carriage of the $3 million project.
For more detail refer to our rail trail description here.
There will also be further information in the Winter edtion of Rail Trail Connections.
More News
Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NRRT) has done it again – winning gold at the 2026 North Coast Regional Tourism Awards...
Rail Trail Australia’s (RTA) Community Grants program 2026-2027 is open and taking applications now. The scope and fun...
Grand Ridge Rail Trail Committee of Management (CoM) has installed brand new information signs along the 13km rail trail...
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT) trail manager Qld Department of Transport and Main Roads has just completed a 10km sur...
Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) is asking for public support to reopen Lapstone Tunnel in the lower Blue Mountains. R...
Show your support for Rail Trails Australia by purchasing from our range of branded Rail Trails Australia clothing inclu...
Rail Trails Australia (RTA) has opened early-bird registration for the 2026 Rail Trails Conference to be held in Canberr...
The Barossa Council in South Australia has installed 2 new bench seats along the Barossa Trail near Angaston. An inclusi...
Rail Trails Australia’s (RTA) Eastern Victoria representative John Birrell attended the July launch of the Great S...
The clearing of part of the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail (BBIRT), from Barrimoon to Barrimoon Rd, towards Kalpowar, h...
Public consultation conducted by Armidale Regional Council in June 2026 resulted in 85% of formal submissions supporting...
Rail Trails Australia Community Grants Program has funded Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail to purchase 3 storyboard-style...
Rail Trails Australia (RTA) is delighted to announce that South Burnett Rail Trail Users Association Inc. were successfu...
Bass Coast Shire Council has completed important upgrade works on a bridge along the Bass Coast Rail Trail near Dalyston...
Nominations close 31 July for the 2026 Victorian Landcare Awards! Celebrate the people and groups who are restoring and ...
On Friday 19 June 2026 a new shared path connecting the Bass Coast Rail Trail to Inverloch was officially opened with a ...
Calendar of Events
See upcoming eventsNews Archives
Receive Our Free Email News
Stay up to date with the latest news about Rail Trails with our free email news.
Register for news updatesFeatured Articles
Celebrating RTA’s Volunteers
26/05/25
More News
Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NRRT) has done it again – winning gold at the 2026 North Coast Regional Tourism Awards...
Rail Trail Australia’s (RTA) Community Grants program 2026-2027 is open and taking applications now. The scope and fun...
Grand Ridge Rail Trail Committee of Management (CoM) has installed brand new information signs along the 13km rail trail...
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (BVRT) trail manager Qld Department of Transport and Main Roads has just completed a 10km sur...
Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) is asking for public support to reopen Lapstone Tunnel in the lower Blue Mountains. R...
Show your support for Rail Trails Australia by purchasing from our range of branded Rail Trails Australia clothing inclu...
Rail Trails Australia (RTA) has opened early-bird registration for the 2026 Rail Trails Conference to be held in Canberr...
The Barossa Council in South Australia has installed 2 new bench seats along the Barossa Trail near Angaston. An inclusi...
Rail Trails Australia’s (RTA) Eastern Victoria representative John Birrell attended the July launch of the Great S...
The clearing of part of the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail (BBIRT), from Barrimoon to Barrimoon Rd, towards Kalpowar, h...
Public consultation conducted by Armidale Regional Council in June 2026 resulted in 85% of formal submissions supporting...
Rail Trails Australia Community Grants Program has funded Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail to purchase 3 storyboard-style...
Rail Trails Australia (RTA) is delighted to announce that South Burnett Rail Trail Users Association Inc. were successfu...
Bass Coast Shire Council has completed important upgrade works on a bridge along the Bass Coast Rail Trail near Dalyston...
Nominations close 31 July for the 2026 Victorian Landcare Awards! Celebrate the people and groups who are restoring and ...
On Friday 19 June 2026 a new shared path connecting the Bass Coast Rail Trail to Inverloch was officially opened with a ...