Rail Trail project turns to other funding options

10 August 2017

Alternative funding options will be sought for the Tweed stage of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, following a recent announcement the project was not successful in the latest round of the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions fund, Council’s Director Engineering, David Oxenham, said.

“Council still believes it is a viable project and will welcome any other avenues to secure the necessary funding,” Mr Oxenham said.

Council applied for $6.5 million from the Building Better Regions fund to build the 24km section of the rail trail from the Murwillumbah railway station to Crabbes Creek.

In July, the NSW Minister for Tourism, Adam Marshall, travelled to the Northern Rivers and announced the State Government had reserved $6.5 million for the project, securing half the funds needed for the $13 million initiative.

“It has been a wonderful community effort to get the project this far, led by Northern Rivers Rail Trail Inc.,” Mr Oxenham said.

“The State Government’s recent announcement and the community turn-out to celebrate that announcement was a great indication of the level of support for this venture.

“We have also valued the strong support of our State and Federals Members, who have recognised the tremendous economic and public health boost the rail trail would bring to the Tweed and the Northern Rivers.

“So it was disappointing to learn that we had been unsuccessful in securing funding through this round of the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions fund,” he said.

“It would be a real lost opportunity if we were unable to convert the disused rail corridor into a major asset for this area, so we will continue to look for funding opportunities.”

Downloads

Photo 1(JPG, 136KB)

Caption: A packed Murwillumbah railway station platform for the announcement of the State Government funding commitment in July.