The Northern Rivers Rail Trail is being constructed in stages across four Local Government Areas.
In the Byron Shire we are:
- Investigating options for the 31 kms from Yelgun to Bangalow and west to the Byron Shire border.
- Exploring funding opportunities to reactivate the Byron Shire rail corridor.
A feasibility study for the 63 kms section between Yelgun and Eltham is currently underway.
The Northern Rivers Joint Organisation has received $481,115 in funding from the Regional NSW – Business Case and Strategy Development Fund to conduct this study, which will be delivered in late 2023.
Funding
We have been working with Transport for NSW (TfNSW) and Department of Regional NSW to identify funding opportunities to develop the Byron Shire rail corridor.
A key constraint to undertaking a condition assessment of the rail infrastructure is the heavy vegetation growing on and off the embankment.
In November 2022, we were granted access by TfNSW to undertake essential vegetation management. This will enable a detailed engineering assessment of the existing rail infrastructure.
We are seeking funding from both State and Federal Government for these activities.