One of the most divisive local issues in recent years has been the construction of the Byron Shire sections of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NRRT).
Last Thursday, Byron Shire Council (BSC) bit the bullet and finally voted to go ahead and seek funding for an ‘on-formation’ trail, which would see the dismantling of the current rail line and the end of any proposed multi-use concepts.
Cr Asren Pugh moved a motion that included a mention of the significant social and economic success of current sections of the NRRT, while acknowledging that preliminary assessments and reports demonstrate that a multi-use trail – for Mullum to Byron – would result in significant technical complexity and environmental impacts.
The motion seeks funding to progress the planning, design, and implementation of an ‘on-formation’ rail trail, and with input from Cr Elia Hauge, that flora and fauna be included in the recommendations of the flora assessments and any environmental impact studies. The motion also said that Council would continue to advocate that the trail remains in public ownership.
During public access Cameron Arnold noted that there had been 315,505 rail trail visitors since March 2023, and that the completed sections through Tweed, Lismore, and Richmond Valley are already delivering substantial returns in visitor spend and local business activation.
‘When the full 132kms is connected, Byron Shire will be at the centre of that success story. Right now we’re a gap in the middle of it, and that means accommodation, nights, cafe stops, events and visitor spending that are currently going elsewhere.’
Speaking against, Chris Sheridan said ‘We haven’t seen any of [the economic success] being proved. There’s nothing to substantiate that claim at all.’
Time to move forward
During the debate Cr Pugh said this has been a long-running issue.
‘For 13 years we’ve been talking about this and very, very slowly changing Council’s position and policy on it to something that’s actually practical. I certainly understand those parts of the community that want a train back, that have concerns about public transport, and those are all real concerns, but the rail corridor is not the solution to those concerns. There is no chance of getting a train. There is no chance of extending the solar train. They’ve been very clear about that. Regardless of what we end up doing, the tracks will have to be ripped up. The bridges will have to be rebuilt.’
peaking against the motion, Cr David Warth said he could totally understand how people want to get on with this. ‘But, what we’re looking at is planning for the future. And every day we drive in and out of Byron Bay and into Mullum, we’re looking the future in the face; choked traffic. It’s only going to get worse.’
Also against removing the rail was Cr Michelle Lowe, who said that as much as she absolutely supports the rail trail, she also appreciates the importance of active transport. ‘I am just so for light rail, and I really wish that that section between Byron and Mullumbimby could be for that. I feel like ripping up the tracks is something that can never, ever be recovered once they’re gone – any opportunity to ever get rail back on there is completely squandered. And I feel like this is a real shame.’
Mayor Sarah Ndiaye said it’s a really vexed issue that’s had passionate people from all sides engaged for decades.
‘I have previously advocated for the multi-modal [option] between here and Byron Bay. I saw it as a potential option, but I also went to the election saying that if it seemed as though that was going to impede going forward, I would not get in the way of the rail trail going ahead. And I’m a person of my word.’
Cr Pugh closed the debate by saying it would make a difference for Council to have a clear, unambiguous, practical policy on the whole of the rail trail.
‘I think that will make a difference to how we get treated by those making decisions about grant applications – they will see us finally being serious about getting this rail trail done.’
The motion was passed with councillors Lyon, Kay, Hauge, Ndiaye, Swain and Pugh voting for, and councillors Warth and Lowe against.
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