With the Tweed and Richmond Valley sections of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail finished and the section from Lismore to Bentley constructed and operating, attention is now on the Byron Shire.
The Northern Rivers Rail Trail follows the old, 132-kilometre Casino to Murwillumbah rail line which travelled through the heart of the Byron Shire, taking in Mullumbimby, Byron Bay and Bangalow.
Christopher Soulsby, Manager Major Projects, said that since the Council confirmed its commitment to the development of the rail trail in 2023, staff have been working on getting approvals from UGL Regional Linx, the authority that manages and maintains the rail corridor in the Byron Shire for investigation and preliminary works.
"At the same time, Council in partnership with Lismore, have submitted a grant application for $42 million to the Australian Government for the design and construction of the sections of rail trail from Mullumbimby to Crabbes Creek and Lismore to Bexhill," Mr Soulsby said.
"The application also included a small section of the trail from Bangalow showgrounds to the Bangalow industrial estate.
"We are currently waiting to hear if the grant application, made through the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program, was successful because the project is completely reliant on external funding - Council simply does not have the money to fund this project on our own.
"There is no doubt the Byron Shire sections of the rail trail will be the most challenging and expensive because of the natural environment generally and the bush that has encroached into the rail corridor since the closure of the line in 2004.
"There are now a number of endangered plants, animals and other wildlife that need to be considered as part of the development of the rail trail which add layers of complexity to the project.
"Council is not only supportive of the rail trail but is very keen to start delivering this project because it will bring with it enormous social and economic benefits for the Shire, as well as the broader region," Mr Soulsby said.
