Rail trail study funding avail: MP Page

Funding availability for a feasibility study into a rail trail on the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line has been announced by minister for the north coast, Don Page.

Northern Rivers Rail Trail Inc (NRRT Inc) warmly welcomed the announcement, however train advocate Karin Kolbe from TOOT (Trains On Our Tracks) voiced concerns that the tracks would be covered and a temporary bike path constructed over the rails. She told The Echo, ‘We need to have our bike tracks beside the rail, or to take our bikes on the train.’

Mr Page, when asked if he advocated a rail trail beside the rail or on the railways, said, ‘The rail trail would be for the most part on the existing track area and certainly within the rail corridor.’ 

Mr Page also said he would ­guarantee public land would not be sold if the project was to happen. 

‘The corridor will be kept intact, not sold, and be preserved for the possible re-introduction of rail services, should a viable economic model for trains become available at some stage in the future. The potential benefits for tourism and employment are significant.’ 

Previous study

The previous rail study of the region, which cost $2m, was blasted back in March by the Greens and TOOT (Trains On Our Tracks) for its narrow terms of reference, the exclusion of light rail, lack of comprehensive ground truthing and a bloated figure of repair comparative to an earlier Price Waterhouse Coopers report in 2004. 

And despite criticism of a flawed report, Mr Page referred to the 130-page Casino to Murwillumbah Train Study and backed his party by claiming rail is not an option as it ‘wouldn’t meet the current or future public transport needs of the region because two of the three largest centres (Ballina and Tweed Heads) would not be served.’

NRRT just shy of 5,000 supporters

Meanwhile NRRT secretary Steve Martin said the issue of covering over or removing existing tracks for a rail trail is a complex one and something which he hopes to have an answer on soon. 

He said however of his not-for-profit group, ‘We now have close to 5,000 community supporters, as well as backing from local government, tourism and chambers of commerce.’

NRRT was formed by a steering committee comprising local business philanthropists, known as the Sourdough Group, as well as volunteers and councillors and people working in the tourism industry. 

Its chairperson, Pat Grier, says, ‘The rail trail would act as the spine that links a network of communities, regional towns and villages.’

‘It would provide the platform for economic development, new businesses and jobs for the region.’