User:Aoziwe/sandbox/rail trails in oz

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Rail trails in Australia repurpose old railway line reserves and easements into recreation and tourist facilities, as tracks and paths for cycling, walking, and horse riding. Often in rural areas, these developments can bring new economic support to struggling communities. [3]



Rural property owners whose properties are adjacent to or crossed by rail trails have expressed concerns about loss of privacy, and critically, about users of the trails compromising biosecurity. [4] [5] [6] Other general concerns include value for money and return on investment being a good prioritisation of funding. [7]

Some local Governments are keen to support rail trails,[8] seeing them as a boost for the local economy coming from tourism expenditure, while others do not believe they should be providing any direct support. [5] State Governments may offer funding for rail trail development, via local Governments, and have formal policies in place supported by documented plans. [9] Business owners do see the benefits of rail trails. [5] [8]

New South Wales had a delayed start in developing rail trails due to state laws. This began to change in 2017, with also Federal Government funding. [10] [11]

Rail trail use is popularised alongside other events and cultural and recreational activities as a parallel activity and for its own value. [12] [13]


There is siginificant popular support and lobbying for rail trails, [14] but such support is not always unanimous. [7] [9] [15]

Rail trails are not just for ad hoc activity. They are also used for formally organised activities, for example marathons,[16] [17]

Significant rail trails

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Rails trails of significant length in Australia include:

Name State Length Location Accessibility Ref
                   

Munda Biddi Trail Western Australia 1,060 km (660 mi) Perth]] (northern end poin20 km (12 mi) west of Perth (northern end point) [18]
Great Victorian Rail Trail Victoria 134 km (83 mi) Melbourne110 km (68 mi) north of Melbourne [19]
Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Queensland 133 km (83 mi) Brisbane70 km (43 mi) west of Brisbane [20]
Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail Victoria 116 km (72 mi) Melbourne250 km (160 mi) northeast of Melbourne [21]
East Gippsland Rail Trail Victoria 94 km (58 mi) Melbourne280 km (170 mi) east of Melbourne [22]
Kilkivan - Kingaroy Rail Trail Queensland 89 km (55 mi) Brisbane225 km (140 mi) northwest of Brisbane [23][24]
Railway Reserves Heritage Trail Western Australia 82 km (51 mi) Perth19 km (12 mi) east of Perth [25]
Great Southern Rail Trail and Tarra Trail Victoria 74 km (46 mi) Melbourne130 km (81 mi) east of Melbourne [26]
High Country Rail Trail Victoria 65 km (40 mi) Melbourne300 km (190 mi) northeast of Melbourne [27]
Gippsland Plains Rail Trail Victoria 63 km (39 mi) Melbourne190 km (120 mi) east of Melbourne [28]
Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail Victoria 57 km (35 mi) Melbourne110 km (68 mi) northwest of Melbourne [29]
Mt Garnet to Lappa Junction Rail Trail Queensland 55 km (34 mi) Cairns190 km (120 mi) southwest of Cairns [30]
Denmark to Nornalup Rail Trail Western Australia 54.5 km (33.9 mi) Perth415 km (258 mi) south of Perth [31]
The Reisling and Rattler Trail South Australia 54 km (34 mi) Adelaide130 km (81 mi) north of Adelaide [32]
O'Keefe Rail Trail Victoria 50 km (31 mi) Melbourne150 km (93 mi) northeast of Melbourne [33]
Old Beechy Rail Trail Victoria 50 km (31 mi) Melbourne152 km (94 mi) southwest of Melbourne [34]

References

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  1. ^ {{cite web}}: Empty citation (help)
  2. ^ {{cite web}}: Empty citation (help)
  3. ^ Pearlman, Jonathan (14 January 2018). "Turning Australia's old rails into new trails". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  4. ^ Ingall, Jennifer (18 August 2017). "Farmers vote "no" to rail trail". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Le Lievre, Kimberley (3 December 2017). "Queanbeyan Palerang council won't support Molonglo rail trail". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  6. ^ Evans, Steve (28 September 2017). "Rail Trails Australia says fears are ufounded". Glen Innes Examiner. Australian Community Media. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  7. ^ a b Gramenz, Emilie (19 February 2018). "Tasmanian election: Locals want decision on fate of North East Rail Trail". ABC News. Australina Broadcasting Corporation. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  8. ^ a b Longland, Barry (12 February 2018). "Rail trail will "breathe new life" into villages". The Northern Star. News Corp. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  9. ^ a b Lees, Chris (30 January 2018). "Gladstone could have it's own Brisbane Valley Rail Trail". The Observer. News Corp. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  10. ^ Verity, William (22 August 2017). "Return of steam trains to feature on reclaimed Picton to Mittagong rail trail". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  11. ^ Broome, Hamish (2 February 2018). "$13 million committed for rail trail after 'long fight'". The Northern Star. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Mother Nature shares her Bright canvas". Newcastle Herald. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  13. ^ McGrath, Jessica (28 March 2018). "WHAT'S ON: 20 things to do in the South Burnett this Easter". Sout Burnett Times. News Corp. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  14. ^ Millet, Carolyn (21 March 2018). "UNE SMART Region Incubator's tourism startup weekend". The Northern Daily Leader. Fairfax Regional Media. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  15. ^ Bray, Gregory (12 February 2018). "ON TRACK: Rail Trail deadline approaches". The Observer. News Corp. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  16. ^ "Ready for marathon O'Keefe Challenge". Shepparton News. McPherson Media Group. 5 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  17. ^ "Enjoy running off the beaten track". Revine Herald. McPherson Media Group. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  18. ^ "Munda Biddi Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  19. ^ "Great Victorian Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  20. ^ "Brisbane Valley Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  21. ^ "Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  22. ^ "East Gippsland Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  23. ^ "Kilkivan - Kingaroy Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  24. ^ Mcgrath, Jessica (28 March 2018). "WHAT'S ON: 20 things to do in the South Burnett this Easter". South Burnett Times. News Corp. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  25. ^ "Railway Reserves Heritage Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  26. ^ "Great Southern Rail Trail and Tarra Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  27. ^ "High Country Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  28. ^ "Gippsland Plains Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  29. ^ "Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  30. ^ "Mt Garnet to Lappa Junction Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  31. ^ "Denmark to Nornalup Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  32. ^ "The Riesling and Rattler Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  33. ^ "O'Keefe Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  34. ^ "Old Beechy Rail Trail - Trail Description". Rail Trails Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.