I object to NERT‘s cycling+walking trail and the destruction of permanent infrastructure that can be utilised to establish a way higher performing “tourism” idea, than any cycling+walking trail will do; and further benefit the whole community; not just a select few re:cyclists.
I object to the cycling+walking trail proposal.
I support keeping therails and sleepers for the railway in place, as they are the heritage of times in the past; when Australia was thriving.
To destroy the GNR railway line would be devastating to the community, not only for the history; but the hard workers who worked on them, and drove trains on them, and the history of who and what was travelling on the trains.
Armidale could take a leaf out of Victoria’s book. They have the most beautiful trains and train trips, and functional public transport; even for regional places like Bendigo, where you can catch a train from Bendigo to Melbourne everyday.
- The Victorian Goldfields Railway,
- The Bellarine Railway,
- Daylesford Country Railway,
- Mornington Railway, and
- the infamous Puffing Billy, just to name a few.
Tourism isn’t about one group of people re:cyclists. Think of the bigger picture.
Ratepayers contribution to council, should be used wisely; and consider the community as a whole.
Utilising the GNR tracks, and getting the train going to Brisbane and back. Would benefit the community as a whole.
The elderly, people with disabilities, students from the UNE, children, parents, and all walks of life in the Armidale community will NOT benefit from the cycling+walking trail going ahead.
What is a “rail trail” anyway? More like a bike track, that will literally rip history straight out of the ground, and waste funds that have already been spent on infrastructure!
I am not sure if Armidale Regional Council, understands what has been happening in the world. There has been a war happening, people are struggling to afford fuel, diesel. People working for themselves, businesses, rural people who travel 100’s and 100’s of kms for basic health services for example. Freight could be transported from Armidale to Brisbane, Brisbane to Sydney, and reduce the amount of traffic on roads, save money on upkeep of roads, and reduce fatalities on our roads.
And the tourism benefits, with our pristine countryside, and friendly community will boost business and make Armidale thrive again.
I cannot believe how little Armidale has progressed, after being away for over 20 years. I came back home in 2020, and business has declined considerably in Armidale the last 2 years.
Can you not imagine investing funds into an existing infrastructure, and having a functional public transport system operating through our pristine landscapes, experiencing the seasons and colour; that the New England region has to offer.
Many towns and cities in this modern world, create and engineer the bike tracks, alongside the railway lines.
Public transport is desperately needed in regional areas. Being able to connect your community via public transport, railway history, and a bike track alongside a functional railway line, with actual “trains” on it, NOT “cyclists”, is going to boost tourism in the region, a lot more than a bike track.
“PUT THE BIKE TRACK NEXT TO THE RAILWAY LINES” or don’t have a bike track at all!
Guyra, Glen Innes, Armidale, Black Mountain would be flourishing with freight and passenger trains back on the GNR Artery.
Shelby Cat
Armidale
2-jun-2026