The NSW opposition has promised $50,000 for a detailed development plan as a critical next step in progressing the Molonglo Rail Trail.
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The announcement was made at Bungendore Railway Station on Friday, with Shadow Minister for Lands, Mick Veitch MLC, Labor candidate for Monaro, Bryce Wilson, and members of the Molonglo Rail Trail Committee.
The proposed Trail passes through the Molonglo Valley through some of the region’s spectacular landscapes.
Bryce Wilson said that, up until six months ago, the Molonglo Rail Trail was in the local tourism plan.
“We’re confident we can work with council to get this going,” he said.
“The first step is to develop the business case. Each rail trail has its own merits and no one business plan fits all.
“The fact that the community has already raised $36,000 shows there’s passion and a will to get this project off the ground.”
Mr Veitch said there was currently no statewide process for rail trails in NSW.
If elected, Labor has said it would put a statewide process in place to streamline rail trail proposals.
Rotarian Dennis Puniard said that the Molonglo Rail Trail proposal had been on the table for a long time.
He was the chair of the first steering committee for the trail in 2002, when the newly formed Bungendore Rotary Club took it on as a community project.
Mr Veitch said that rail trails like the two proposed for this region would boost local economies and support local jobs in smaller townships.