TOUTED as a future landmark recreational thoroughfare, Wagga’s proposed rail trail continues to run full-steam ahead after a fundraising campaign raised more than $50,000.
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The first piece of the puzzle will fall into place with the commission of a fully detailed development plan, which will be carried out in the new year.
Chair of the community project Lisa Glastonbury said the Rail Trail committee had narrowed their search down to two of the best town planners in the country.
“There are rail trails spread in every other state across Australia and both of these planners have worked extensively on quite a number of these trails,” she said.
“They know what they’re doing and they know what makes a world-class trail.
“It’s really a huge victory just in time for Christmas.”
She said more than 200 individuals, families, sporting and recreation clubs, and regional businesses dug deep to support the initiative.
“The response from the local community has been absolutely overwhelming – something we’re grateful for,” Ms Glastonbury said.
“Local people want the trail and they have funded the whole planning process up to this point.”
Landholder on the Coolac-Tumblong line Andrew Scott has also advocated for the 21-kilometre disused rail corridor from Wagga to Ladysmith to be converted into a tourist attraction.
He said farmers were initially annoyed at the concept for a number of years, but some could now see the benefits to the community, while many are still deeply opposed.
“I’ve been going to New Zealand for 10 years for work and have been on the Otago trail,” he said. “I saw how the community turned around over that period. It’s only natural for people to resist at first but the boost to the community would be huge.”
The planning process will begin in February, once the committee secures an architect to bring the project to life.
Riverina Regional Tourism chairman Greg Lawrence said the trail would be a “drawcard attraction that will assist in cementing the city’s place on the tourism map”.
“The new tourism attraction proposed with this project has the potential to increase visitation and economic development within our region,” Mr Lawrence said.
“It has the potential to contribute significant economic benefits to the local community and the region.”
A similar trail in Victoria, the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail from Bright to Wangaratta and Beechworth, has been a significant benefit to local economies.