PLANS to establish the recreational rail trail between Goulburn and Crookwell continue to be developed.
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Chair of the Goulburn-Crookwell Rail Trail Incorporated, Deputy Mayor Bob Kirk, is confident the project will win the overwhelming support of the community and government.
“The State Government’s recently announced plans to initially consider just two NSW pilot projects (the Northern Rivers and the Tumbarumba- Rosewood trails), was not the outcome we were anticipating, but that has not affected our focus on progressing our proposal, nor has it diminished our prospects of success,” he said.
“Any suggestion that the local project will not now proceed, is certainly incorrect.
“We will have to wait until the pilot program work (to develop the application and assessment process) is completed.
“Once this is done, we understand that the $50 million funding (which has not yet been allocated), will then be opened up to all potential rail trail groups to submit their proposals for consideration.”
Cr Kirk said the delay while the pilot program work is being completed could prove a blessing in disguise for his committee.
“This delay actually provides us the opportunity to further improve our submission, in anticipation of future applications being called for later in the year,” he said.
“So we are still in there plugging away, and quietly confident of delivering a wonderful community based facility, that will bring many visitors to our two centres; considerable tourism spending; considerable local social and health benefits, as well as creating local employment and business opportunities in the process.
“Who wouldn’t want to see outcomes like that for our communities?” Cr Kirk maintains that the Goulburn- Crookwell Rail Trail proposal meets all the outcomes being sought by the State Government through its Restart NSW - Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund.
“This is the best potential economic driver that will come our way, for a long time, and we need to grasp this opportunity while it is there,” he said.
He acknowledged that a few adjoining land owners have concerns about the changes that the Rail Trail will bring.
“We want to work with all stakeholders, and find suitable solutions to their concerns in the process,” he said.
“Rail trails are not new in Australia, and the issues here are essentially the same as have been experienced, and satisfactorily resolved, in other states.
“We are a volunteer community group who want to see this project succeed, however it has not yet been possible to meet with every stakeholder.
“We have spoken directly with about 50 and have written to all 167 adjoining property owners, inviting their contact and feedback.
“To date there have been only seven instances where we have not yet been able to reach agreement on their issues, and we will continue our efforts to do so.”
His group has also conducted four open-house/drop-in sessions at Crookwell and Goulburn, which amounted to another 28 hours of faceto- face discussion with interested community members.
Cr Kirk is looking for more community feedback.
“Our Feasibility Study is available on our website www.gcrt.org.au as well as additional information in the Frequently Asked Questions section,” he said.
Deputy Chair Cr Paul Culhane (from Upper Lachlan Shire Council) and I, will appreciate your views, preferably by letter (to PO Box 494, Goulburn 2580) or email,” he said.
Email contact details are rjkirk@bigpond.com or paul@smrcrookwell.com.au.