Tweed urged to award rail trail tender to get project on a roll

Ahead of the Tweed Shire Council meeting on Thursday, the Northern Rivers Rail Trail Association is urging councillors to award the construction tender for the Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek section.

Ahead of the Tweed Shire Council meeting on June 17, 2021, The Northern Rivers Rail Trail Association is urging councillors to heed staff recommendations and award a tender so work can commence. Explore magazine.

Ahead of the Tweed Shire Council meeting on Thursday, the Northern Rivers Rail Trail Association is urging councillors to award the construction tender for the Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek section of the corridor.

Councillors will vote on a recommendation by the infrastructure delivery team to award the construction tender for the 24km stretch of cycle and walking path, the first in what is ultimately proposed to be a 130-kilometre rail trail from Murwillumbah to Casino.

While Tweed Shire mayor Chris Cherry, said “it will be amazing” when the rial trial is completed, she said division between councillors could see the decision delayed as they continue to debate between an on-formation trail which will see the infrastructure removed, compared to an off-formation option which will see a rail trail and track run side-by-side.

According to council’s agenda, the staff recommendation is “that in respect to contract RFO2020035 Northern Rivers Rail Trail Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek Section:

1. Council awards a contract to Hazell Bros Group Pty Ltd ABN 27 088 345 804 for the amount of $11,769,491.25 inch GST ($10,699,537.50 excluding GST), subject to successful independent financial assessment.”

RAIL TRAIL: A map showing the Northern Rivers Rail Trail; which supporters including local councils, say will be an economic boon for the region.

According to the report, council has been debating the rail trail since at least 2013.

Northern Rivers Rail Trail Association vice president Cameron Arnold said was about time a decision was made.

Mr Arnold said it made sense to vote to proceed with the predominantly on-formation proposal that has been presented as the most viable option.

Tweed Shire had already secured State and Federal Government funding for the project, which would provide a significant economic boost to the area and a safe and active corridor for residents to enjoy.

“Tweed Shire already has full funding for the rail trail, so all we need is for councillors to vote to award the construction tender this week and we are off and running,” Mr Arnold said.

“The State and Federal Governments awarded these grants to Tweed Shire to plan and execute the rail trail on-formation.

“If council decides at the eleventh hour not to proceed, they may have to repay the money, of which around $1 million has already been spent.

“Council has done its due diligence investigating both an on- and off-formation trail by asking the construction companies to tender for the option they felt was most appropriate, all four came back with only 20 per cent or less off-formation, which speaks volumes.

“We urge council not to delay further and vote to proceed with the predominantly on-formation proposal that has been presented as the most viable option.”

Mr Arnold said proceeding with an on-formation rail trail would not preclude trains coming back in future, instead it preserves the corridor for future generations.

“The railway line is already being dismantled in some sections, with eight bridges removed and four parcels of land sold-off.

“In the current climate, we do not believe a train or light rail would be an economically viable option for the State Government.”

Ms Cherry conceded a small but vocal group of people had been pushing to have council decide for the off-formation version.

“The hard position is we are at the end of the line and Richmond Council have decided on an on-formation trail,” she said.

“But Byron Shire Council want to do an off-formation segment, so this is quite a difficult decision.”

Ms Cherry denied that if the decision was delayed at the June meeting it would become an election issue.