New England Rail Trail community consultation report

The consultation involved 2 public consultation sessions, 1 in Tenterfield and 1 in Guyra. Additionally, an invitation for public feedback was issued seeking email or written submissions for those unable to attend the sessions in person.

The aim of the community consultations was to:

• Inform the NSW Government on whether there is support for the potential closure of a section of the rail line to progress the New England Rail Trail (NERT) project, and the entire rail line to enable the development of other rail trail projects in this region.
• Share information and gain understanding of local perspectives, opportunities and concerns in relation to the proposed rail trail.

The community consultation process aimed to balance the provision of information to the community with an opportunity for the community to voice opinion, raise their concerns and ask questions.

A total of 211 people attended the 2 consultation sessions. The Tenterfield session had 62 attendants and the Guyra session had 149 attendants. Some people attended both sessions. Attendees known to own land directly adjacent to the proposed rail trail numbered 38 people (representing 18% of attendees).

It was evident from the tone and nature of questions raised and from the sentiment discovery exercises undertaken in both sessions that many attendees had formed a strong view either in support of or against the concept of a rail trail prior to these sessions.

Several key subjects emerged from the consultation that could, with further detailed analysis and consultation, assist the community to understand the potential risks and benefits of the rail trail proposal.

Broadly they are:

• A thorough economic analysis of the project as proposed, examining all claims relating to the economic opportunities and risks arising from the project.
• A complete investigation into the viability (or otherwise) of restoring freight/passenger services, and/or the plausibility of reserving the rail corridor for other future uses.
• Establishment of a detailed plan for the proposed project, dealing with the wide range of subjects pertinent to the community, including physical access management, biosecurity management, transition arrangements for existing uses (grazing and heritage), emergency response arrangements and the implications for adjacent land-holders.

Written submissions from people local to the region indicated support levels of 56% for the rail trail, whereas 41% objected the to the closure of the rail.