Both the NSW Greens and Labor have thrown their support behind a Rail Trail between Goulburn and Crookwell.
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The 56km proposal would see the former Goulburn to Crookwell railway line converted into a rail trail for cyclists and walkers.
This project has been under consideration for a few years and an independent feasibility study was completed on it in 2016, which showed it could bring in 35,000 people a year here to use it, generating $3.4 million per annum for the local economy.
But the project seems to have 'gone off the rails' in recent times due to a lack of political will and a $50 million fund for rail trails in NSW has 'disappeared' back into Treasury.
Last February a well-attended public meeting was held in Goulburn on the idea and then a report on that meeting was tabled in NSW Parliament.
The top five priority areas for people that were specified in the report, regardless of sentiment, coming out of the feedback to that public meeting were:
- economic benefits
- health benefits
- safe riding and access
- bio-security, and
- job security and creation.
Labor candidate for Goulburn Dr Ursula Stephens said NSW Labor supports the development of rail trails in NSW.
"We had a big conversation with the Goulburn Mulwaree Mayor and general manager this week and they explained how far along the proposal is and how they have had support from both councils for it and what the impacts would be," Dr Stephens said.
"All of the groundwork has been done, so now it is about changing the legislation and dedicating the Crown land to a rail trail - that is for the next government to do."
Dr Stephens said she noted a previous fund for the development of rail trails - a $50 million fund - has been absorbed back into Treasury.
"We thought there was money available for rail trails but it is not there at the moment - so the next government will have to figure out what to do about that - but Labor is very supportive of the project," she said.
Greens support the trail too
Greens candidate Saan Ecker has thrown her support behind the project.
"The rail trail is a great community venture and we need to get behind it and support it," Dr Ecker said.
"The Greens support rail transport very strongly, however this railway corridor has not been used by a train since 1985. Most of it is not being used and rail corridors are a public asset."
She said there were a lot of barriers to the rail trail getting up, despite support from local government.
"There is a lack of political motivation from the State Government, but both Goulburn Mulwaree and Upper Lachlan Shire Councils are very supportive of the idea because they can see its potential," she said.
Ms Ecker, who has a background in regional tourism research, said when such projects get up they unleash creative new ventures that are associated with it.
"Once you unleash a project like this and give it permission all sorts of creative ventures come up," she said.
"I did a study on regional farm tourism and a lot of farmers got into these opportunities during a crisis such as drought where they needed to make extra money.
"In New Zealand and East Gippsland there are examples where these projects are revitalizing these areas and the community spirit is also great."
She said research shows people will only travel to a region if there are a number of things to do in that area, so if a rail trail brought them in, there still needed to be other activities in the area to keep them there.
She also supported maintaining public access to reserves in rural communities.
"In Canberra you can go for walks in reserves but in Yass and Murrumbateman you can barely access any decent long walks," she said.
"Now the State Government is selling off Crown roads and travelling stock reserves and sometimes these are also the only remaining vegetation corridors for threatened species such as the Superb Parrot."
David Cole
Journalist at the Goulburn Post
Journalist at the Goulburn Post
