HOPES the proposed Culcairn to Corowa Rail Trail could be in line for NSW government funding appear to be dashed, garnering criticism from rail trail advocates across the state.
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A closer examination of the guidelines for applications to the $50 million funding program shows just two regions of NSW are actually eligible: the Tumbarumba to Rosewood line, and the Casino to Murwillumbah line in the Northern Rivers region.
Rail Trails for NSW’s chairman John Moore — who last week praised the government for the funding opportunities, initially believing all areas were eligible — said it was disappointing.
“It seems it would be a waste of time for other groups to put an application in because the funding has already been decided,” he said.
“It’s really quite demoralising for other groups because it means after the work they have done, they will not have the opportunity to get any of this money.”
Mr Moore said the 23-kilometre Tumbarumba-Rosewood trail had been budgeted for about $5 million — meaning the remaining funds could potentially all go to the Northern Rivers.
“Both trails will be excellent, and they have done some great work, but that amount of money could be spent across five or six trails and they could be up and running within 18 months,” he said.
He was also critical of the fact that any trails funded would be considered “pilots”, when there was already strong evidence from other states including Victoria, of the rail trails’ success.
Former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer — a passionate rail advocate and “renewed keen cyclist” — said there was “tremendous potential” in the Murray and Riverina for bike trails, particularly the Culcairn-Corowa trail.
“They require consultation and planning and community discussion but landowners should look forward to the commercial potential of bike trails on towns and one farms along the route,” he said.
But Albury MP Greg Aplin said it needed to first be established trails were viable in NSW: “I think it needs to be proven they are in demand and can be maintained.”
He said the 70-kilometre Culcairn-Corowa trail had “a long way to go before getting to the point where they can put an application forward”, while the Tumbarumba-Rosewood trail had already put a unsolicited application forward and completed feasability studies.
Mr Aplin said he understood funding would be available for feasbility studies in other areas of the state also and referred The Border Mail to Regional Tourism Minister John Barilaro.
Mr Barilaro’s office did not respond to queries by deadline.
