Receive Our Free Email News
Stay up to date with the latest news about Rail Trails with our free email news.
Register for news updatesThe Coonawarra Rail Trail is taking shape
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
More News
The Barossa Marathon on Sunday 23 August was a great success with perfect weather, light winds and a record 3,500 compet...
Heavy rain and subsequent flooding have cut the Southern Flinders Rail Trail in South Australia, 1km north of Stone Hut....
Bass Coast Shire Council (BCSC) has closed a section of Victoria’s Bass Coast Rail Trail due to erosion concerns. ...
Great news for rail trail enthusiasts! A construction tender has been awarded to kick off the next phase of the Wadandi ...
One of Australia’s best known cycling regions has introduced a program designed to help visitors in the area ident...
South Australia’s Barossa Council has received an additional $100,000 grant through the Government of South Austra...
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...
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
The Barossa Marathon on Sunday 23 August was a great success with perfect weather, light winds and a record 3,500 compet...
Heavy rain and subsequent flooding have cut the Southern Flinders Rail Trail in South Australia, 1km north of Stone Hut....
Bass Coast Shire Council (BCSC) has closed a section of Victoria’s Bass Coast Rail Trail due to erosion concerns. ...
Great news for rail trail enthusiasts! A construction tender has been awarded to kick off the next phase of the Wadandi ...
One of Australia’s best known cycling regions has introduced a program designed to help visitors in the area ident...
South Australia’s Barossa Council has received an additional $100,000 grant through the Government of South Austra...
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...
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.