Wagga Rail Trail committee has vowed to work closely with landowners along the rail corridor it plans to turn into a recreational thoroughfare.
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The project launched its campaign at Wagga’s council chambers on Wednesday by saying it wants to help the city shed its fattest city tag.
The first step for the committee will be to raise the money to fund a $65,000 development plan into the disused rail line.
Rail trails have been a tourist success story for Victoria, but have been met with fierce opposition from affected property owners on lines in the region.
Wagga Rail Trail project chairwoman Lisa Glastonbury said she wanted to develop a respectful relationship with residents along the line.
We want to work with each resident’s requirements.
- Wagga Rail Trail project chairwoman Lisa Glastonbury
“We have started a dialogue with landholders,” Ms Glastonbury said.
“We want to work with each resident’s requirements.”
Ms Glastonbury said a school along the corridor has expressed interest in managing the section of the path that runs by their facility.
“We (also) want (residents along the rail line) to have a defined role of the management of the trail,” she said.
“We want (the community) to be involved in the process.”
Ms Glastonbury said the objective of this trail will differ from others in the region as it will be built primarily for Wagga residents, as opposed to relying on attracting tourist traffic – enabling it to be more economically feasible.
“The Wagga Rail Trail is about making Wagga a place that people choose to live,” she said.
“A place where people can enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle in a city that’s vibrant, connected and liveable.”
The proposed rail trail will be a 21-kilometre trek from the Wagga Tourist Information Centre to the Ladysmith Railway Station.
The line was closed in 1987 after 70 years of service.
Ms Glastonbury said the track would be fully sealed and would be wheelchair accessible.
“For many, it will be a day’s outing,” she said.
“(Users) would stop somewhere for lunch or go to the RAAF museum.”
A similar project on the Tumbarumba to Rosewood line is close to getting over the line, which will make it the first rail trail in NSW.
The proposed Tumut to Batlow rail trail has been met with strong opposition from farmers in the Gilmore Valley saying it would have a detrimental effect on their properties as the rail line runs through the middle of their land.
