Community meetings to discuss Monaro Rail Trail Study
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Council is investigating the feasibility of constructing a recreation trail on the disused railway between Queanbeyan and Bombala and the project has entered an important stage with a series of community consultation sessions to take place in late July.
Council has engaged consultants to prepare the Monaro Rail Trail Feasibility Study. The study is an important step in determining whether a trail for cyclists and hikers along the (currently) disused railway corridor has merit.
The consultants, Transplan Pty Ltd and Mike Halliburton Associates, will host a number of ‘Open Houses’ where members of the community can drop in and discuss the project with the consultants.
“Engagement with the community is an important part of our work and we are undertaking a comprehensive process of communicating with individuals, community groups, adjoining landowners and other key stakeholders,” Transplan’s Mike Maher said.
“This consultation is in addition to conversations that the Friends of Monaro Rail Trail have already had with a number of adjoining landholders and business proprietors over the last few years.”
“There will be no formal presentations at these sessions. People are encouraged to drop in at a time which suits them to have a conversation with us and Council staff about the project. The sessions will provide information about the project via a display and one-on-one conversations as well as providing an opportunity for community members to ask questions.
The dates and times of these sessions are: •Tuesday 23 July - 5.00pm – 7.00pm - Bombala (at Bombala Community Centre) •Wednesday 24 July - 5.00pm – 7.00pm - Nimmitabel (at Nimmitabel Community Centre) •Thursday 25 July 5.00pm – 7.00pm - Cooma (at Cooma Library) •Friday 26 July 5.00pm – 7.00pm - Bredbo (at Bredbo Community Hall) •Saturday 27 July 9.00am – 12.00 noon - Michelago (at Michelago General Store)
The Open Houses are designed to show the community what the rail trail might look like when it is built.
The Open Houses are very “visual” – they include a display of the proposed rail trail involving photos of the corridor as it currently is, together with artist’s impressions of what it may look like after construction. The display will also include photographs from other rail trails.
“At this stage, the Council has yet to formally determine whether it will proceed with the proposed trail,” Snowy Monaro Regional Council Mayor John Rooney said.
“At the same time as the Rail Trail Feasibility Study is being undertaken, other consultants have been engaged by the State Government to determine whether it is practical and viable to return trains to this corridor, and to extend the railway to Eden. The results of that study will have a major bearing on the feasibility of a trail on the disused railway corridor.”
The rail corridor is owned by the State Government not Council.