The 34km Coast to Vines rail trail as its name suggests runs from the sea at Hallet Cove and Marino through vineyards to Willunga, south of Adelaide. Click here for more details of the rail trail including map.
The cities of Onkaparinga and Marion jointly manage the rail trail and have shown their commitment to improving the rail trail by recently putting considerable effort into developing Marketing, Signage and Facilities Plans.
Railtrails Australia was therefore surprised and disappointed to learn that the state government is planning to do the very opposite of this. Through the Land Management Corporation (LMC) they are planning to sell approximately 700m of rail trail land at Noarlunga Downs to A.V. Jennings to put houses on.
In the past several sections of the former rail line were unfortunately sold off requiring several diversions on the rail trails. It is important to maintain (and develop further in this trail’s case) the continuity of the trail to not only provide a better trail experience but also to allow for possible future re-use of the corridor for public transport. For a government to then sell off sections of a public rail trail that has now been open and well used for many years sets a terrible precedent.
Railtrails Australia is not opposed to the government developing surplus land in the area but rather than divert the rail trail around on the creek flood plain this section of the proposed development could be designed around the rail trail. This would be an opportunity to put into action the concept of sustainable and healthy communities, a concept that has been promoted in other LMC residential developments.
Railtrails Australia has written to the City of Onkaparinga urging them to oppose this proposal and will be writing to the relevant ministers. We urge users of rail trails, especially from South Australia, to also write to the government opposing this alarming precedent.
A list of contacts is below. The Honourable Patrick Conlan is the Minster responsible for Transport SA (managers of the rail trail land) and the Land Management Corporation.
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Register for news updatesAlmost 12 months ago parts of Central Victoria were significantly impacted by flood events that caused major damage acro...
Paul 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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