Cycling enthusiasts rescue council’s scrapped rail trail plan

Cycling and community groups have revived the councils failed rail trail project seven years after the Council submitted their first funding application. DETAILS

Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn with Bernie Kemps.

Cycling enthusiasts and community groups have revived the Bundaberg to Gin Gin Rail Trail project after a 20 million dollar shortfall in Council funding halted plans.

In September 2024, Deb Keslake, the finance portfolio spokeswoman at the time, said ongoing financial realities, paired with inflated project costs, meant the council would withdraw monetary support for the rail trail project.

In the council’s stead, Bargara Social Cycle Group, Coral Isle Cycling Club, The Pink Flamingos and Bundaberg Mad Cycologists are working together to bring the cycling project to fruition. Construction is slated to begin as early as July 2025.

In a statement released to the media on Tuesday, Mayor Helen Blackburn said “we understand the importance of this initiative for both locals and visitors, and we’re happy to be a collaborator, but it’s not possible for us to do everything for everybody”.

The council plans to provide support for the organising groups, in way of consulting with the Department of Transport and Main Roads, owners of the rail corridor.

The rail trail idea was first floated in 2017 when the Queensland Cycling Plan was rolled out by the state government. The plan outlined a commitment to shared-use paths on disused state-owned rail corridors.

Bundaberg’s first application for funding was in 2018, and former mayor Jack Dempsey announced plans for the $13.1m project in June, 2019.

Plans to begin construction on the multimillion-dollar community funded project are planned for July 2025.

Ms Keslake now believes the project would have cost almost $40m to complete.

“After undertaking a detailed business case, it was estimated a basic level rail trail would be $39.799m to deliver,” she said.

The significant costs will be carried by those within the community, who see the invaluable worth of having a safe and accessible walking and cycling route in the area.

Rodney James from the Bundaberg Mad Cycologists said the community would benefit from bringing more “tourism, even international visitors” to the region.

“You can get out in the country and see things you wouldn’t normally see when you are driving,” he said.

Bargara Social Cycle Group’s Nick Page agreed, and added it was also an initiative that would benefit all sorts of people, not just cyclists.

“It would be really fantastic to have something like this on our doorstep,” he said.

“Our group loves to do these kinds of adventure rides, and we love to support those local communities along the routes as well.”

Coral Isle Cycling Club member Bernie Kemps said the initiative would be great for the community of cyclists in the region.

“The next step is to get a committee together … and it’s surprising how much support there is out there and how many people have asked me if they could be

part of it already,” he said.

“TMR will give us a licence to move onto the land and investigate what needs to be done.

“We will then organise a community meeting for all who want to be involved.”

The small community group are hopeful construction could begin in 2025.

“I know it seems ambitious, but I am hoping that we can start construction by July this coming year,” Mr Kemps said.

“I am hoping we can have it all done within two years.”