Casino To Murwillumbah Rail Trail
Northern Rivers Rail Trail – Casino to Murwillumbah Council is also an active supporter of the proposed 132km rail trail running the full length of the Casino to Murwillumbah rail corridor. The Casino to Murwillumbah Rail Trail Study comes in at 68 pages, cost $80,000 according to the deputy premier’s office, and estimates a rail trail will cost $75.5 million and that it would add 88,320 visitors the region per annum. Consultancy company Arup were commissioned after the Casino to Murwillumbah Transport Study was released in 2011. Communities from Casino to Murwillumbah are set to benefit from a rail trail that will attract thousands of visitors a year and create much-needed jobs and investment for the Northern Rivers.
Casino to Murwillumbah railway, conversion to walking rail trail, cycling, receration trail. A lineal national park for the Rainbow region of northern N.S.W.
To:Local Councils, State & Federal Government
Please support Northern Rivers resident's campaign to:
•Protect and Repair the Casino to Murwillumbah Rail line for commuter services (NSW Gauge) as soon as possible
•Provide a regular and frequent rail service every 1-2 hours, including at night (or up to 16 trips per day)
•Use Diesel Rail-Car shuttle vehicles possible to convert to bio-diesel/bio-fuels/solar power, or Electric Light Rail if it becomes viable (power station located at Condong sugar mill)
•Focus on starting track repairs in smaller sections (e.g. Byron to Beach Resort, to Mullumbimby, to Yelgun..)
•Integrate rail shuttle services with local bus services and bike paths
•Preserve Murwillumbah to Tweed corridor for future connection to Coolangatta Airport/Transit Centre
Why is this important?
(Background) The Casino to M'bah line was opened in 1894 and operated until the NSW government closed the service in 2004 despite widespread community opposition. The last service on the line was an XPT that only ran twice a day.
REOPENING THE CASINO-MURWILLUMBAH RAIL LINE FOR COMMUTER SERVICES TO CREATE AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE:
•Significantly increasing population (Northern Rivers has the highest predicted population growth in NSW)
•We have a high reliance on private cars. Rising petrol prices, climate change. Rail would be better for the environment by reducing our co2 emissions.
•To reduce Traffic congestion at Byron Bay, Lismore, main highways, local markets and festivals. Rail would provide infrastructure to deal with Peak Tourism periods
•Reduce Road maintenance (buses create more road damage than cars).
•To reduce the Northern Rivers Road Toll, which is the highest in NSW. The Pacific Highway is the most dangerous road in NSW. and there is an accident on Bangalow-Lismore Rd on average once a week. We are losing far too many local lives on our roads, including accidents involving vehicles, hitch-hikers, cyclists or trucks.
•Reduce the high rate of drink driving in the Byron Shire.
•Many towns are currently not connected by public bus services. The Railway connects most towns to the regional centre Lismore, and to tourism hotspot Byron Bay. Connects residents to essential services.
•Trains cater for elderly, disabled, wheelchairs, bicycles and surfboards
•Support locals accessing Education, Housing and Employment, Community Health, Youth ,and Mental Health Services, eg. ‘Headspace' in Lismore
•Will create jobs, reduce social isolation, addresses local social issues and disadvantage
•Promote Northern Rivers Regional Tourism: Heritage Rail, access to recreational activities including local markets, beach, galleries, local produce, festivals, beautiful scenery, country towns, National Parks
•A Rail Trail Study has been announced, but rail trails work much better when integrated with a train service, especially through our terrain and dispersed towns.
•Freight HQ at Casino provides freight opportunities as the rail is adjacent to many mayor supermarkets and industrial areas, and the local area produces crops such as sugar, soybeans, nuts and coffee. Putting road freight onto rail will make local roads safer
•If the High Speed Rail is built in the future between Sydney and Brisbane via Casino, rail travel times from the Northern Rivers to Brisbane will be reduced to 2hrs or less, and will be more efficient than road travel
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Reasons for signing
We don't need to choose between a 'rail trail' and rail services. We can and should integrate cycling with rail services and support our regional towns and cities.
I worked this line and should never be closed
We need this for the communities along the railway.
Updates
1,000 signatures reached
500 signatures reached
find TOOT on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TOOT4Trains
100 signatures reached
50 signatures reached
25 signatures reached
10 signatures reached
To:Hon Michael McCormack MP, Deputy Prime Minister
Dear Minister,
Please support the Northern Rivers Rail Trail Inc. campaign to convert the disused railway corridor in the Northern Rivers Region between Casino and Murwillumbah, into a multi-use Rail Trail. It could be used by cyclists, walkers, horse riders as well as by small, electric vehicles in some areas. Many successful precedents have been set in neighbouring states and overseas Rail Trails have proven to be a major benefit to local communities providing infrastructure for health, recreation and connection. As a visitor attraction in itself, it also provides a backbone for a network of visitor products and services which stimulates much needed economic development and jobs to the region. The corridor is deteriorating quickly and becoming inaccessible, which is seen as a great loss of potential for many of us in the area.
Why is this important?
It is important to preserve the rail corridor as a community asset for any potential future commuter use such as solar/electric commuter vehicles, light rail, mono rail etc.
A rail trail will create a beautiful pathway between Casino and Murwillumbah, winding through world heritage areas and some of the most scenic country in Australia.
It will create numerous, sustainable jobs, new businesses can be created and existing businesses have the opportunity to grow.
The Northern Rivers Region attracts thousands of visitors a year and a rail trail would encourage healthy, outdoor activities into the smaller towns and villages of the area. Rail Trail surveys show that they attract higher yield and longer staying visitors.
The rail corridor could be turned into a place of beauty. It would create a wildlife corridor; noxious weeds could be removed and replaced by the planting of native shrubs and trees.
It will encourage sustainable transport, reducing the number of cars on the road and the need for more car parking spaces in the busy towns.
Locals will be able to use the rail trail to link up with neighbouring towns, without using their cars and children will be able to ride to school safely.
To do nothing would be a huge loss for the region.
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Reasons for signing
This is a fantastic community asset.
This could rival anything in Australia or the world. What a fantastic benefit for the community, tourism, health and the environment!
A great tourist booster for the local communities - boosting tourism in a very environmental friendly activity.
Updates
We now have the funding for the first stage of the rail trail, from Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek - a total of 24 kms.
Casino To Murwillumbah Rail Trail Map
Dear Friends,
The Northern Rivers Rail Trail Project is moving forward! We have an opportunity to apply for a government grant of $300 million, but need your help to make it a good submission.
We would like to do a detailed plan of the corridor between Casino and Eltham which would involve employing an engineering company. If we have this plan, our submission will be considered more favourably.
We have reached the half way mark and already have $35000 but the next 2 weeks is crucial..
Please to your bit for the trail by supporting this crowd funding and help get this community path up and running!
5,000 signatures reached
Casino To Murwillumbah Rail Trailers For Sale
1000 signatures reached