COUNCILLORS VOTE 8 TO 3 IN FAVOUR OF TRAIL

At the Lismore Council meeting on Tuesday night, councillors voted in favour of supporting the rail trail by allocating $15,000 towards the business case. Richmond Valley Council has also given $15,000 towards the business case. That money, along with $60,000 from NRRT (crowd funding), will go a long way to creating a fantastic business case for the Casino to Eltham stage of the trail. This is necessary in order to secure the larger State and Federal funding needed to build the trail.

ANOTHER FUND RAISER FOR THE RAIL TRAIL

Come and have a great night out at the Brunswick Bowling Club. Tropicappella Voices will be having their end of year concert with donations at the door going to NRRT. Come early and order dinner before the show starts at 7pm.  We will also have a raffle with some great local prizes. 

Rail Trail team learns from Brisbane Valley experience

Ride fuels passion to build the best

Council staff working on the design of the first stage of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail literally got on their bikes last weekend to gain first-hand experience of a successful rail trail operation.

 The team, led by Rail Trail Project Manager Iain Lonsdale, rode 40 kilometres along the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail with the President of the trail’s Users Association Paul Heymans to learn lessons from their experience with the ongoing construction of this 162-kilometre trail and its operation.

 “We spent several hours riding the trail with Paul and discussing all aspects of how they established the trail and how it has grown over the past decade,” Mr Lonsdale said.

 The research ride allowed the team of design engineers and environmental scientists the opportunity to inspect the different kinds of surfaces used along the Brisbane Valley trail, which will help Tweed decide the best design option for Stage 1 of the Northern Rivers trail from Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek.

 “We also saw how Brisbane Valley used the existing rail infrastructure, incorporating bridges, tunnels, railway track, signage and station buildings into their design.”

 On the day of the ride, the Brisbane Valley trail was hosting a 160-kilometre endurance run with refresher stations and supporters at various points along the trail.

“Seeing the patronage of the rail trail and how well it worked for a major regional sporting event was very encouraging. 

 “Without exception, everyone we spoke to on the trail was enthusiastic and welcomed the prospect of a new rail trail in the Tweed.”

 The Tweed team was particularly interested to learn of the business opportunities provided by the trail, reporting that the demand for accommodation generated by trail users had prompted a $1 million expansion and upgrade of the Esk Caravan Park.

 “Our visit to Brisbane Valley certainly fuelled the passion of the Tweed team to deliver a first-class rail trail product for northern New South Wales to build a new regional tourist attraction to drive economic growth and jobs.”

 For more information about Stage 1 of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail and to have your say about the proposed trail, visit https://www.yoursaytweed.com.au/RailTrail

Click here for a PDF version of this Media Release

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We want to try and not eat into the crowd funding money which has been earmarked for the business case.