Byron Council will investigate private sponsorship, tourism partnerships, and smaller staged projects as it seeks a new path forward for the long-delayed Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NRRT) after a major federal funding bid failed.
Councillors recently backed a notice of motion from Mayor Sarah Ndiaye and Deputy Mayor Jack Dods calling for a detailed report into why the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program application was unsuccessful and what options remain to advance the project.
Alternative funding
The resolution asks staff to examine alternative funding models, including philanthropic contributions, charitable sponsorship, lotteries, public-private partnerships, and ‘sponsor a section’ schemes, while also identifying future grant opportunities. Council will also investigate breaking the Byron section of the trail into smaller, more achievable stages.
Mayor Sarah Ndiaye said councillors had been disappointed by the unsuccessful funding application and the lengthy wait for a decision.
‘We have an opportunity now,’ she said.
‘The advice from Janelle Saffin… was break it up into smaller chunks to make it more deliverable.’
Federal feedback released during the meeting identified shortcomings in the application, including questions around project readiness, outstanding design work and approvals, governance arrangements, environmental risks, and the absence of a formally executed agreement between Byron and Lismore councils.
Stronger detail around First Nations involvement was also sought.
Preparing the ground
Council General Manager Mark Arnold told councillors that a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been prepared between the participating councils but had not been formally executed when the application was assessed.
Deputy Mayor Jack Dods said the rejection highlighted broader organisational issues within Council.
‘We’re always playing this kind of catch-up role,’ he said.
‘The original grant was clearly too ambitious. The cost was too high. It was not detailed enough because it took a 30,000-foot approach to implementing this thing.’
Cr Dods said Council needed more detailed plans for individual sections of the corridor to improve future funding prospects.
‘What we’re trying to do here is actually get some wins on the board.’
The motion also calls for a publicly accessible rail trail masterplan and investigation of sections that could potentially proceed independently, including Bangalow, Billinudgel, Mullumbimby, and Byron Bay connections.
Call to arms
Speaking during public access, Pat Grier AM from the Northern Rivers Rail Trail Association (NRRTA) described the failed grant bid as ‘a call to arms’.
‘Let’s get ready for grants coming on stream,’ he said.
‘It is not a disappointment not getting the grant. It is actually a call to arms to say let’s get this rail trail up and running.’
Sign up with your support
You can support the rail trail by signing the online petition at www.northernriversrailtrail.com.au/support.
However, the failure of the federal application has pushed back the timetable for any significant construction within Byron Shire.
While the new motion seeks to improve the project’s readiness and identify alternative funding sources, there is no guarantee that future grant rounds will be successful, particularly given the substantial costs associated with the Byron section of the corridor.
Meanwhile, the disused rail corridor continues to face pressure from erosion, vegetation growth, and adjoining development proposals. After more than a decade of debate, whether any section of the Byron rail trail is ultimately built remains uncertain.
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