OWEN FITZGERALD
Riverina Highlands Rail Trails Committee

PETER DALE Co-presenter

FROM FAILED RAIL TO RAIL TRAIL

One of the most exciting potential developments to emerge in the Riverina is being championed by the Riverina Highlands Rail Trails Committee, a sub Committee of the Riverina Regional Development Board.

A group of cycle enthusiasts took the idea of converting into rail trails two disused railway corridors between Wagga Wagga and Tumbarumba, approximately 130 kms in length and Tumut to Batlow, approximately 30 kms in length, to the Riverina Regional Development Board for consideration of support.

The case for development of these two corridors into rail trails was relatively easy to sell to the development Board, as development of rail trails elsewhere in Australia, especially Northern Victoria, has reaped quantifiable economic benefits. The Board subsequently sourced funding for a feasibility study that recommended a way forward, including detailed development planning.

Prof Sue Beeton of Latrobe University has conducted two studies on cycle activity on the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail in Northern Victoria and quantified economic benefits have been widely reported. Additional benefits including health and well being, tourism, recreational, environmental and social have also been identified.

The challenge in NSW is getting the NSW Government to legislate for the formal closure of the lines that, although unused for decades, must be closed to enable public access. The task of the rail trails committee has been convince the NSW Government of the desirability of closing the lines and converting them preferably to Crown Reserves to enable construction and on-going management under a Crown Reserve Management Trust structure.

Rail trails Australia, the National body, has inspected the proposed rail trail and is excited about its magnificent scenic route.

The presentation will clarify the current position in the quest.

Owen's association with Rail Trails began approximately five years ago when a friend who had just returned from a holiday in New Zealand, related her amazing experience of riding the Central Otago Rail Trail.

Being a keen cyclist Owen could see the enormous potential for a Rail Trail in the Riverina, and started to research the existing Rail Trails in Victoria.

He was suitably impressed by their success and his next move was to survey the local community to determine what support could be generated. He was overwhelmed by the local interest.

Through these local community meetings Owen met Paul Gorden-Smith from Wagga Wagga who had the same passion and drive to establish a rail trail in New South Wales.