Bundaberg Council cancel rail trail project

It is with great disappointment that Bicycle Queensland has learnt that the proposed Bundaberg to Gin Gin Rail Trail has been cancelled by Bundaberg Council. We understand that this decision has been made due to a reported $20 million blow-out in costs according to the business case, and financial difficulties in Council that have seen a raft of projects and operational expenditure cut.

Read more: Bundaberg to Gin Gin Rail Trail Development plan

We understand that significant funding was provided by the State for this project, which has been handed back by Council.

Whilst Bicycle Queensland appreciates that there are difficult financial circumstances for some Councils that require tough decisions, the axing of this particular project is nevertheless a bitter pill to swallow. Only this week, we have seen the multiple benefits of rail-trails for regional communities highlighted so effectively in the ABC’s Back Roads program featuring the southern end of the Kingaroy to Kilkivan Rail Trail.

With some experience around business cases and rail trails, we have written to Bundaberg Regional Council Mayor Helen Blackburn, expressing our dismay at the decision and expressing our concern at the reported $39.799M cost for the rail trail.

We know that rail trails can be delivered relatively cheaply and can be staged. We see this happening around Queensland, such as the great work being done by communities and Councils for the Boyne Burnett Rail Trail, Fraser Coast and Councillor Watson’s approach to reviving the Pineapple Line as a Rail Trail at Yeppoon. A case in point is the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail which started life humbly and has grown with progressive improvements.

Bicycle Queensland urges Bundaberg Regional Council to consider a different approach to the rail trail and to reconsider this opportunity to the region, as they deal with their financial issues and move forward on their vision of “building Australia’s best regional community.”

Lets hope this opportunity is not lost.

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