Byron, Lismore and Ballina shire councils' hopes to join the two halves of the northern rivers rail trail were dashed after a joint request for federal funding to complete the 54km missing link was knocked back. The federal government rejected a $42m grant request, despite the backing of councils in a region in dire need of support.
The rail trail currently exists in two halves: a stretch around the Tweed River area and another in the western hinterland between Casino and Lismore. If completed, it would allow cyclists to travel 135km from the canefields in the Tweed, through Mullumbimby and Byron Bay, to the hinterland via Bangalow, Lismore and Casino.
Community and economic impact
Byron Shire Mayor Sarah Ndiaye described the decision as "heartbreaking" and a surprise, noting that authorities appeared to have "picked smaller projects to have more impact in more places." She said, "I was really disappointed and I know a lot of other people were too, because we waited a really long time for them to say no." The mayor highlighted the social, physical, and economic benefits that would have come from the project, but acknowledged that "even when the project stacks up, in the current environment it doesn’t seem like enough."
Ballina Shire Mayor Sharon Cadwallader also supported the project, calling it "more than a cycling path: it’s a regional economic project, it’s a tourism project, it’s a health project and it’s a community connection project." She noted that public transport is "pretty much nonexistent here" and that the rail trail would provide a safe link for cyclists, reducing road accidents.
Regional economic struggles
Cadwallader said completing the rail trail would bring much-needed investment to a region where business is struggling. During the 2024-25 financial year, regional GDP declined by 2.50% in Ballina, 1.90% in Lismore, 4.90% in Byron, and 2.10% in the Richmond Valley. Ndiaye linked this decline to climate change, noting that the state has been dealing with a "consistent, steady stream of disaster" and that in 2022, one shire saw over $300m damage in a single night.
History and advocacy
The Lismore to Tweed branch line railway, built to serve local farmers, opened in 1894 and operated until 2004, when the XPT service ended. A crowd of 200 people saw off the last train with candles, a mock coffin, and protest signs. Lydia Kindred from Northern Rivers Rail Ltd advocates for a revival of rail service, initially with a solar-powered train from Byron to Mullumbimby, and sees the train and rail trail as "complimentary." She said, "Having both, to us, seems like the answer."
Pat Grier, a longtime advocate, points to the success of New Zealand's 150km Otago Central Rail Trail as proof of economic potential. He said, "I think something positive will come from this setback as now people realise they have to fight for it. It really is all about vision. This would transform the region. We aren’t giving up."
