Councils come together to make Rail Trail happen

LISMORE and Byron Shires are joining forces in an attempt to build three sections of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.

Lismore City council and Byron Shire council are applying for $38 million through the federal government’s Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program, which supports investment based on the principles of unifying regional places, growing economies and serving communities.

If successful, the money will go towards constructing the sections from Crabbes Creek to Mullumbimby, Binna Burra to Bangalow and Lismore to Eltham.

The first 24km section of the rail trail, from Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek, opened in March 2023 and saw nearly 150,000 users in the first year.

A second section, from Casino to Bentley, opened a year later and will be extended by 30km to South Lismore by the end of this year.

Byron Shire councillor Asren Pugh, who has long been an advocate for the shared cycling and walking track along the defunct trail line, said the application will be lodged soon.

The Binna Burra to Bangalow section turned around the Byron Shire’s policy, so was important to include in the application, he said.

“Some members of the community had helped council get a grant to do the design along this corridor and that was the catalyst, because Transport for NSW was not going to allow us access to do the design because our policy was still to bring trains back.

“In order to keep that grant we had to clarify that policy and that meant being really clear that trains are not coming back, but we want to back the Rail Trail. If we’re successful with the grant, it could be done in a couple of years.”

If that is the case, the remaining unfunded sections would include Bangalow to Mullumbimby (including the town of Byron Bay, which is currently subject to a separate study) and Binna Burra to Eltham. When complete, the Northern Rivers Rail Trail will cover 132km from Casino to Murwillumbah.