The Wattle Range Council is making good progress with the construction of the Coonawarra Rail Trail. The majority of the base has been laid and compacted and 8km of the trails 20km length has been sealed. Work will focus on constructing the Penola and Glenroy sections of the trail in March with completion planned for April.
The path will have a 3m wide base with a 2.4m wide spray seal surface which will cover the existing rail lines. The railway lines and sleepers have been retained and built over at the request of the owner of the rail corridor, the State Government. The Minister for Transport has been requested to explain why the rails and sleepers needed to be retained.
Sealed surface
unsealed section showing rail lines level with the compacted surface
Sealed surface showing original rails level with the rubble surface
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Sign UpThe Richmond Vale Rail Trail in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley is rapidly progressing towards development. As reported...
There are some folklores, especially from a movie, that all you have to do is build it and they will come. However the r...
After a small break to regroup, the Batlow to Tumut Rail Trail committee are once again on the task of assisting this wo...
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After the devastating floods that struck the northern NSW and SE Qld this year, some good news with life returning to a ...
More great news for the wonderful Great Southern Rail Trail in Gippsland, Victoria with the announcement that funding ha...
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3 comments on “The Coonawarra Rail Trail is taking shape”
I do not understand why the Rails have been retained. I for one have come off my Bike whilst traversing wet steel surfaces and it seems obvious to me that wear will soon expose sections of the Steel Rail. I would not like to be the owner of the Trail as there are likely to be numerous injury claims in the future.
Thanks for your comment Edward. I have asked the Minister why retention of the rails and sleepers is a condition of the licence of the rail corridor to the Council. As yet, I have not received a reply and I may not, given that we are approaching an election. I have pointed out the risks involved to the Council and they are doing all they can to minimise the risk. Unfortunately there is little that can be done and the risk will be ever present and will grow as the path ages. I will raise the issue with the Minister again once the election has been determined.
l guess it saves them the cost of removal.