Four Mile Scrub to Boynedale Bush Camp Rail Trail project launched in Boynedale
The opening of the Gladstone Area Water Board Four Mile Scrub to Boynedale Bush Camp Rail Trail comes as part of the board’s $7 million-dollar injection into local tourism.
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Gladstone Area Water Board chief executive officer Darren Barlow has labelled the 6km Four Mile Scrub to Boynedale Bush Camp Rail Trail a key driver of tourism in the region.
The rail trail, which runs from Four Mile Scrub to the popular Boynedale Bush Camp, is a stretch of decommissioned rail corridor that forms part of the Boyne Burnett Inland Rail Trail network.
It will feature sections for non-motorised travel such as walking and cycling, while the Four Mile Scrub section will be open to foot traffic only.
Boynedale Bush Camp is provided free to the public, offering a composting toilet, fire pits, picnic tables and shelters, and is located about a 45-minute drive from Gladstone Central.
At the official launch of the new rail trail on Friday, Mr Barlow said it was a part of a larger system throughout Queensland.
“Rail trails are going to play an increasing role in tourism, particularly in regional areas. Once complete, this network will be a very significant regional asset, as (part of) the Southern Hemisphere’s largest rail trail network,” Mr Barlow said.
The launch comes as part of GAWB’s huge Lake Awoonga Recreation Strategy, a series of outdoor recreation projects that will boost tourism in the region between 2020 and 2025.
The launch of the rail trail in Boynedale is one of the most recent major project since the opening of Aquaculture Gladstone’s $12 million facility in November last year.
“We see this asset as one which will actually enhance the liveability of the region, not only for locals who live here, but as a major attraction for others as they join and visit into the Gladstone region,” Mr Barlow said.
Water Minister and Gladstone MP, Glenn Butcher, described the $8 million state government funding towards GAWB’s recreation plans as ‘money well spent’.
“Not only is it money well spent for the area, but money well spent for our tourism opportunities that are going to come from that,” he said.
“There’s also the opportunity for work; we’ve had local workers around these projects for the last few years.
“The future for this inland rail trail, moving forward, is the opportunities that we’re going to have in local business and in our communities, and the tourism dollars are going to start to flow into the Gladstone region.”
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