Laura Stapleton, Chowan Creek, NSW
A rail trail from Murwillumbah to Casino will give families something special to do together in this region. We are not like the city where there are endless possibilities of outings and activities that are advertised and encouraged, we rely on connecting with our beautiful landscape and countryside for entertainment, and that is why most of us live in these areas.
This particular rail trail offers some of the most beautiful landscape in the region and generations of families can come together to enjoy its beauty. Australia is known to have one of the greatest obesity problems in the world and offering rail trails show that we value our health and we are supporting people to overcome this problem. Health problems stemming from obesity are one of the heaviest financial burdens that this country incurs.
Imagine also how amazing this would be to encourage tourists to this stunning region. The rail trail will surely stimulate economic growth right across its corridor and encourage local people to establish businesses and create employment, something that rural areas struggle with.
As the Byron shire becomes more and more popular, we need to offer more tourist attractions around it so Byron itself does not become overloaded, and as its neighbours we can also reap the benefits of its popularity.
The route has already failed as a train route, resurrecting it will do no more than appease those that are holding onto the memorabilia of old times. As a mother in this region, I can imagine I would take this pleasant train route maybe once and only to Byron, but if it was a bike track we would enjoy it as part of our exercise routine as well as quality time and thus use it several times a month.
Other than on the coast, there is no where else that I know of that is safe for me to take my children bike riding, an activity that most of us enjoyed when we were children but struggle to now because of all the cars and trucks on the roads.
Thank you for taking the time to read my submission. Many of us feel very excited about the idea of enjoying a rail trail in our much loved region and I thank you for supporting it.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
