Cycle trail funding success
• Federal Member for Bass Bridget Archer announced that the North-East Rail Trail has been given the green light for $1.47 million.
By Taylor Clyne,
September 02, 2020
After a short period of uncertainty, the North-East Rail Trail project from Scottsdale to Lilydale Falls is now set to go ahead after the fight to keep the $1.47 million in Federal Government funding was successful.
Federal Member for Bass Bridget Archer said she had been advocating to the Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack to extend the funding after the original funding agreement had lapsed.
“Due to further community consultation from the Dorset Council over the project, the original funding grant through the Building Better Region Fund, which had already received one extension, was due to expire,” Mrs Archer said.
“I was determined not to see the funding expire with no community improvement or benefit delivered by the Commonwealth to the Dorset community.
“I thank Minister McCormack for his efforts in working with me to find a solution.
“The funding, now to be delivered through the Community Development Grants Programme (CDG) provides the Council and the community with certainty, assuring the project will go ahead.”
Mayor Greg Howard said that now funding has been confirmed they will commence the lodgement of development application (DA) for Launceston City Council and Dorset.
“Our DAs are very close to being ready to go, once they have been approved, we will call for tenders.
“It’s pleasing to note that we have already had interest from a number of companies with the capabilities to dismantle the rail line and reconstruct the cycle trail,” he said.
The 41km project is hoped to be underway this summer.
“This funding supports job creation and tourism, which is more important than ever, particularly as the region looks to recover from the economic challenges of Covid-19,” Mrs Archer added.