Councillor debunks rail trail protesters’ claims: Off-track Tweed Valley rail trail was never an option

Supporters of saving the Northern Rivers train tracks say funding was only ever available for an on formation route for the rail trail, however a councillor has disputed this claim.

Protesters rallying to save the rail tracks at the proposed route for the Tweed Valley Rail Trail.

Supporters of saving the rail tracks in the Tweed Valley have claimed the option to build the project with an off rail formation stopped being an option at the acceptance of government funding - a claim flatly denied by council.

The claim comes after the Tweed Shire Council awarded the Tweed Valley Rail Trail project tender to Hazell Bros at Thursday night’s meeting, which would see the project built on formation and the train tracks ripped up.

The project involves building a 24km cycling route between Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek incorporating two tunnels, 26 bridges and provides multiple vistas of the Tweed Caldera landscape.

RAIL TRAIL: A map showing the Northern Rivers Rail Trail; which supporters say will be an economic boon foe the region.

The works to be performed involve design and construction of a rail trail for pedestrians and cyclists which would extend from the Murwillumbah Station terminus and finish just south of the location of the previous railway station near Crabbes Creek.

Tom Rayner from support group for keeping the train tracks, We Can Ride Together, claimed funding was only ever available for an on formation option.

Protesters rallying to save the rail tracks at the proposed route for the Tweed Valley Rail Trail.

“The decision of Tweed Council in their February 2018 council meeting to accept either on or off formation options was totally misleading and wrong,” Mr Rayney said.

“So the Tweed Shire community has had the hope that common sense would prevail with hopefully the option of bike trail and light rail – thereby saving the tracks, for three years, and now found out that could never be the case.”

Councillor Warren Polglase said these claims were untrue.

He said although funding from the State and Federal Government was for an on-formation track, when the project went to tender, the council allowed for tenderers to offer an off-track option.

“The criteria was they could tender which ever way,” Mr Polglase said.

“It was set out to be on track with an agreement to look at off track.

“None of the four (tenderers) came back with that proposal - they all tendered for 80 per cent on track and 20 per cent off.”

Northern Rivers Rail Trail Supporters celebrate council awarding a tender to build the new track on formation.

Northern Rivers Rail Trail Supporters posted on social media calling councils decision to award the tender a “fantastic result.”

“The 24-kilometre trail will be built mostly on the disused rail line to provide a safe cycling and walking route for locals and a new tourism destination for visitors to our region,” the post said.

“We hope Richmond Shire Council will soon follow suit, and appeal to Byron Shire Council and Lismore City Council to move forward with their plans and ensure construction of the full 130km trail.”