First steps for rail trail project

THE State Government is funding a feasibility study into the Castlemaine to Maryborough rail trail project.

Member for Bendigo West, Maree Edwards, said the study has been allocated $120,000 and will examine what work needs to be done, what project could cost and what potential impacts are.

“The trail is already there, there’s probably not that needs to be done to enable this apart from safety, environmental issues and things like that,” she said.

Ms Edwards said the proposed 55-kilometre recreational trail could boost tourism in Central Victoria, as well as jobs and the local economies.

“Just a couple of weeks ago there was around 100 people who gathered to do a 100 kilometre walk along that trail, so we know its ging to be a popular attraction,” she said.

“The push to have the Goldfields part of the UNESCO World Heritage Bid, this adds to that. It’s connecting two significant goldfield towns, Maryborough, Castlemaine, and all the towns in between.”

The old train line connects the two major towns to smaller towns such as Newstead, Carisbrook and Campbells Creek.

According to Ms Edwards, a previous feasibility study revealed a return of passenger rail in the region is not necessary.

“[That study] indicated it was not feasible, there wouldn’t be the patronage to utilise that train service,” she said.

“We already have bus connections between Castlemaine and Maryborough and people utilise the highway. It’s a better use of what we know is infrastructure from the past.”