While the broader community appears to support the proposal – a sealed, 21 kilometre track along a disused rail corridor – neighbouring landholders fiercely oppose it. The line runs through the middle of several properties and farms, leading the owners to believe they’re being ignored by proponents and authorities.

“I didn’t purchase a rural property away from traffic to just have people come and walk right through it,” Nicole Eggleton, one of the affected landholders, said.

“I bought this land for my kids to enjoy the lifestyle, riding their bikes and ponies, our boundary is just 10 metres from the track.

“Because we don’t own the rail land itself there’s a view it should be welcomed but there’s no big picture vision.”

Simmering resentment of the Wagga Rail Trail committee has been exacerbated by the NSW Government’s decision to push through a bill to establish the state’s first rail trail just up the line at Tumbarumba. While the pilot project won’t extend all the way down the line to Wagga, it has been seen as an important test case for the proponents of the Wagga Rail Trail and their supporters.

Adding to the pressure is Wagga City Council’s support of the project, featured as part of the city’s draft transport strategy, which Ms Eggleton said was frustrating.

“It’s disappointing that council seems to have adopted the rail trail, they don’t fully understand how it will affect the farmers,” she said.

“The people behind the rail trail aren’t concerned, they just want to see it go ahead and we’re not saying stop all trails, but why not bypass the farms?

“Even if they used side roads and go around properties, why not go along those roads, think of everyone?”

Not a single neighbouring farmer supported the trail, Ms Eggleton said, but that didn’t seem to matter to decision makers.

“We’re a small minority and they want to close us off and just do what they want to do,” she said.

“It’s disappointing to hear they’re all for it, they’re not looking at the small person, just what benefits them.”

A community forum, featuring Wagga Rail Trail consultants and an outline of the planning process and desired outcomes for the project will be held at the council chambers on June 7.