Rail Trail

Rail Trail

Tablelands Regional Council

Rail Trails Development

A plan to establish a Rail Trail along the Mareeba to Atherton rail corridor is moving ahead, with Tablelands Regional Council agreeing to several actions to take the proposal to the next step.
Council set up a Rail Trails Advisory Committee in 2009 to drive the proposal which involves establishing a trail for bushwalkers, horse riders and cyclists along the existing rail corridor.
Community consultation were meetings held in Atherton and Mareeba in February 2010 and revealed that there was clear support from the public for the rail corridor to be utilised for non-motorised recreational activities.

"A Rail Trail will not only benefits locals as a place to walk, cycle or ride horses, but it also has the capacity to encourage visitors to the region," Mayor Tom Gilmore said.  "People need to understand that there is a lot more work to do in understanding the costs, how it will be funded, what infrastructure will need to be kept, and understanding how it will all work."  Cr Gilmore said it was expected that it would take a minimum of 12 months to undertake the planning and preparation for the project.  One of the first actions is for Council to negotiate with Queensland Transport for the official closure of the rail corridor to enable the project to move ahead.

Another initiative that will be pursued by the Rail Trails Advisory Committee will be the establishment of an organisation that would assist in the maintenance of the rail trail, similar to that of the Friends of the Cape to Cape Track in Western Australia.
That group currently has 400 "friends" whose annual subscriptions help raise funds for the track's maintenance. In addition, 35 "friends" have "adopted" a section of the track that they help maintain through rubbish collection, pruning, minor maintenance works and regular checks on guideposts and signage.

Anyone interested in becoming a "friend" can contact Committee Chair Dean Davidson on 1300 362 242.

The Rail Trails Advisory Committee will also approach Lotus Glen Correctional Centre about the possibility of utilising low-risk inmates to maintain sections of the Rail Trail.
Updates
A further report is being presented to the Council at the ordinary meeting to be held on the 19 Jan 2011.

Article which featured 5 November 2010 in Tablelands Advertiser;