Planit is leading the landscape, engineering, heritage and environmental works for the Northern Rivers Rail Trail – Casino to Bentley with a draft masterplan now on public exhibition.
The $7.5 million project is being fully funded by the Federal Government, under the National Tourism Icons Program. The 13.4km rail trail section that Planit is assisting with, maps the key elements of the project and design concepts for four precincts which display important attractions and features of the trail.
The plan also sets out the design of key infrastructure such as bridges and intersections, the refurbishment of heritage structures such as Old Casino Station, landscaping and planting, signage, and the importance of connecting rail trail users to the Casino CBD.
Once complete, the old rail line will be converted into a walking and cycling rail trail stretching 132km from Casino to Murwillumbah. The trail will be able to:
· Preserve the corridor for future generations
· Provide a new experience even to long-term local residents
· Form the infrastructure to support business enterprise
· Support new technologies in sustainable personal transport
· Enhance village life by converting rail yards into public spaces
· Generate jobs that are interesting, fulfilling and career oriented
· Distribute tourism dollars inland to revitalise towns and villages
· Reactivate a more and more sedentary and isolated society
· Encourage social interaction and participation to build community
· Revive a tradition link between the towns and villages
· Provide habitat and reconnect remnant forest sections
· Showcase our magnificent and ancient land to the world
· Capture higher yielding tourism customers
· Help differentiate our region for tourism marketing purposes
 
Bicycle NSW Communications Manager, Kim Lavender congratulated local residents for their efforts to make the project a reality.
“Rail trails benefit local people and create jobs and growth in sustainable industries,” Lavender said. “We are pleased to hear the Federal candidates commit to funding for the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.”
The draft masterplan is now on public display – submissions close on Thursday 12 November. Following public feedback and collation of opinions, the draft will move onto the next stages of the project.