Workshop for Rail Trail landowners to voice concerns

23 November 2018

Working groups to be established to collaborate on project

Council will hold a workshop with landowners adjacent to the rail corridor between Murwillumbah and Crabbes Creek to advise them of progress and hear any concerns they have about the proposed Rail Trail.

Mayor of Tweed Cr Katie Milne moved the motion for a landowner workshop at the 15 November Council meeting, where it passed 5:1, with one councillor absent.

The workshop with councillors will be held early in 2019.

An agenda for the workshop is being developed and all landowners along the corridor will be invited to attend.

Following the workshop, two reference groups will be established to help the project team resolve landowner issues in the design phase of the project and drive the economic and social benefits of the rail trail.

A Landowner Consultation Group will provide a platform for landowners to share their concerns, ideas and suggestions among themselves and with the project team.

“By inviting the landowners into the project we will be able to collaborate on solutions to both individual landowner issues and group issues as a collective,” Rail Trail Project Director Iain Lonsdale said.

“It will encourage innovation and lead to common rather than bespoke solutions, with the possibility of mitigating any landowner distress in these early stages of design.

“These landowners are our priority stakeholders and we acknowledge that the rail trail will directly affect their lifestyles and, in many cases, their livelihoods.”

The second reference group will be a Rail Trail Sharing Group, comprising representatives from the community, business and industry, chambers of commerce, tourism operators, user groups and others to share ideas and work collectively to drive the economic and social benefits around the rail trail.

Already the Rail Trail Project Team has recorded 14 adjacent landowners seeking business opportunities from the Rail Trail, from cafes and accommodation to development of an interconnecting mountain bike track.

This Sharing Group would work with individuals and businesses to harness and leverage the benefits and opportunities provided by the rail trail now and into the future.

Nominations for membership to both groups will be advertised early in 2019, together with the terms of reference for each. Councillor representatives will be nominated for each of the groups.

Watch Council's video ‘Experience Our Heritage’ and complete a short survey on the Rail Trail by visiting www.yoursaytweed.com.au/RailTrail.