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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Register for news updatesPaul Baker has cycled over 2,400 kilometers since the start of January. The 47-year-old set himself the goal of riding a...
Plans for a rail trail in the NSW regional city of Goulburn are a step closer, after the Goulburn Mulwaree Council voted...
Wellington Shire Council, in conjunction with South Gippsland Shire Council, is constructing 21km of the Great Southern ...
After the recent Rail Trails Australia annual general meeting, attendees were treated to discussion from legendary cycli...
The Queensland Government has just released its third action plan under the 10-year Queensland Cycling Strategy for 2023...
The restoration of the 770m long iconic Snowy River trestle bridge on the East Gippsland Rail Trail has not been immune ...
The plan to link the Great Southern Rail Trail and Bass Coast Rail Trail at Nyora has taken a further step as tenders fo...
The extension of the Mary Valley Rail Trail (MVRT) in south-east Queensland has taken some crucial steps forward in rece...
In 2020 the Adelaide Hills Council was successful in securing $2.6m in funding from the Federal Government to complete s...
An enjoyable morning was had by nearly 350 people who attended the official opening of a new 11k section of the Mary to ...
A motion for supporting a rail trail through Byron Shire was passed by Byron Bay Council — it is a wonderful outco...
An expert study just released affirms the transformative effect a rail trail will have on the Central Victoria. The 9-...
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4 comments on “The Coonawarra Rail Trail is taking shape”
Hi – I was looking for an update as to when this trail might be open. last news item I could find said April 2022.
Thanks
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.