Tumbarumba rail trail opponent Gordon Kelso backflips and backs Wagga-Ladysmith trail

Gordon Kelso has been a resident of Tumbarumba for 17 years and said when the rail trail was initially proposed he was staunchly opposed.

"It ran straight through my sister's property and I could see no long term value in it, I thought it would have zero value," he said. "I thought, we'll spend $10 million on this and we'll have a great white elephant on our hands."

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He said he was concerned about biosecurity issues initially, concerns that have been raised by farm owners around Wagga, but said he has not seen any of his initial fears play out since the project got up and running.

Snowy Valleys councillor Bruce Wright said others shared Mr Kelso's concerns but the opposition has largely died off since the project was completed.

"There was a lot of resistance to start off with and opposition," Cr Wright said. "Farmers weren't happy because it would pass through their land and they were worried about biosecurity and all the rest, but once it was all settled and fenced I don't think there's any serious opposition to it now and they have found there has been no biosecurity risk."

RELATED: Wagga to Ladysmith Rail Trail proposal opposed by local farmer

Mr Kelso said his own fears of biosecurity risks as unfounded.

"It's one of those things where you need to be man enough to put up your hand and say, 'I was wrong,'" he said.

"It runs through quite a few properties but it's all fenced off and people who ride the trail are generally older people, families. They're not jumping fences, they're enjoying the countryside."

Wagga landowners have opposed the trail mainly for similar reasons, though the Farmer's Alliance's Alan Brown said the route itself from Wagga to Ladysmith doesn't have the scenery or an adequate destination in Ladysmith to have the same draw that Tumbarumba has enjoyed.

Mr Kelso said he has seen both towns thrive since the trail was set up, with businesses opening in response to tourism brought in by the trail.

"Rosewood is still a tiny place with 100 people living there, it wasn't a destination it has become one because of the rail trail," he said.

He has even become a regular user with his wife and said her has witnessed businesses skyrocket since the trail opened.

"We started to see the town start booming, and I mean booming," he said.

Cr Wright said he believed Wagga should jump on board.

"It's been great, I think any town that has an old railway through it should grab it with both hands and go as hard as they can," he said. "It has so many benefits, not just health but the benefits to the business community."

Mr Kelso agreed saying he had gotten stuck on the concept in the past, and now sees the bigger picture.

"A lot of us got stuck on the rail trail element when it is really a part of a tourism plan," he said. "People will come to Wagga for this rail trail."

Council gave a Wagga to Ladysmith Rail Trail in principle support at the General Council Meeting last week, sparking a resurfacing of ongoing debate between supporters and those is opposition.

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