Final stretch of historic railway to be redeveloped into bike trail after contamination appeal fails

The North East Rail Trail has undergone years of bitter battles from heritage railway proponents. But now, the final stage has gotten the green light. Follow the saga here.

The Hughes family riding to Scottsdale on the North East Rail Trail. Picture: Swag Family/Adventure Learning Australia

Following years of drawn-out battles, a tick of approval has been given for the final stage of an historic railway redevelopment in the state’s north-east.

The North East Corridor, which was constructed in the late 19th century between Lilydale Falls and the former Scottsdale railway station, is currently being redeveloped into a scenic recreational footpath and cycle path by Dorset Council.

The latest stage of the new North East Rail Trail – 14km between Wyena and Lilydale Falls – will now forge ahead following a failed appeal in the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

The stretch of rail runs through rural and agricultural land as well as native vegetation, plantation forestry and rural residential dwellings.

Dorset Council plans to remove the rails and sleepers, and construct a new surface by crushing the existing rail ballast with a mobile crusher attached to a tractor.

Those opposed to the development argued the crushing of ballast to construct a new trail surface would lead to contaminants like arsenic, lead, copper, nickel and zinc leaching into nearby waterways.

They also argued over the potential for erosion, and impacts on nearby vegetation.

In their newly-published decision, tribunal deputy president Richard Grueber and member Helen Locher dismissed those concerns, finding that with proper drainage and site management, impacts would be at an acceptable level and diminish over time.

Mr Grueber and Dr Locher said as long as the proposal had efficient draining, there was a low probability of the crushed ballast generating levels of metals above the national guidelines.

The historic Scottsdale railway station. Picture: Ted Lister

Dismissing the appeal, the tribunal upheld a decision by Launceston City Council to issue a permit for the development, albeit with a long list of conditions.

These conditions include the preparation of a number of individual construction environmental management plans for different sections of the trail.

The plans must address contamination risk assessments for all areas near watercourses, measures to minimise dust, soil and other material from becoming airborne or exiting the trail via erosion or stormwater.

First proposed back in 2012, a 28km section of the trail already exists between the railway station and Billycock Hill.

An additional 26km, which links the station to Wyena, was approved in November 2021 by the tribunal after an appeal by an affected landholder.

Heritage rail proponents have previously expressed dismay over the redevelopment, noting the removal of railway infrastructure meant trains would never run into the scenic area again.

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