General News
25 May, 2023
Wheels rolling on rail trail
With the completion of a feasibility study into the proposed Castlemaine Maryborough Rail Trail just weeks away, people are being asked to have their say via an online survey. Funding for the feasibility study was announced in June last year, and...
With the completion of a feasibility study into the proposed Castlemaine Maryborough Rail Trail just weeks away, people are being asked to have their say via an online survey.
Funding for the feasibility study was announced in June last year, and according to Castlemaine Maryborough Rail Trail Incorporated president Janice Simpson, the study is on track to be finished at the end of June.
The proposed project would see a 55 kilometre path created alongside the Maryborough to Castlemaine rail line which has not been used since the 1980s.
Rail trails are popular for walking, cycling and horse riding with the proposed trail to pass through Carisbrook, Moolort, Newstead, Guilford and Campbells Creek.
According to Ms Simpson, it would be the only rail trail in Victoria where you could catch a train to Melbourne at both ends.
“I think it will be a game changer for this region because it will be one of 47 rail trails in Victoria. And with an active rail head at both ends, no other rail trail has that. That will be unique,” she said.
Ms Simpson explained the consultants who were hired to conduct the feasibility study have looked at a range of matters and their final report will include costings for the proposed project.
“The work that’s been done is finalising the actual route as well as the articulation in and out of towns. With active rail lines in Maryborough and Castlemaine that has been very important to get that right, as well as being able to go into Guilford, Newstead, and Carisbrook en route,” she said.
“The other part of the work that’s been done is an economic analysis of the tourism and local benefits in terms of visitation increases, likely business stimulus as well as wellbeing and leisure and health for locals (using the trail).”
Quantity surveyors have been working to establish whether the rail trail could go over road and waterway crossings where the rail line does, or if it would need to take a different route.
“They’re making a recommendation that it just follows the track over the water (across Cairn Curran),” Ms Simpson said.
“Apparently at the Cairn Curran crossing, which is the biggest one, the old rail bridge over there is in fine engineering condition it just needs resurfacing and fencing for safety reasons for people to be able to cross it safely on foot or on a bike.”
The consultants conducting the feasibility study have developed the online survey to get feedback from the community.
“They are analysing the results as they come in. I understand there were 300 responses in the first two or three days,” Ms Simpson said.
Anyone with an interest in the rail trail is welcome to complete the survey, which is being promoted by both Central Goldfields and Mount Alexander Shires.
The survey is open until June 23 and is available at www.survey monkey.com/r/cmrailtrail
For more information about the proposed rail trail, visit cmrailtrail.org.au
Once the feasibility study is complete, the next steps are a cultural heritage study and an environmental survey, both of which are mandatory for infrastructure projects.