The former railway lines dividing Wondai have gone … now there’s hope that funding could become available to develop the corridor as a recreational trail 
SBRC Mayor Wayne Kratzmann
South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann (Photo: SBRC)

June 3, 2014

South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann will be “knocking on the State Government’s door” ASAP after the news that $3.5 million has been earmarked for recreational rail trails in the 2014-15 State Budget.

The money will be allocated over the next four years and will be open to applications.

The Budget papers say the funding “has been internally reallocated to increase active recreation and tourist visitation by extending and enhancing Queensland’s network of recreational rail trails for walkers, cyclists and horse riders”.

The South Burnett had been promised $546,234 to develop a rail trail between Murgon and Kingaroy in the dying days of the Rudd Federal Government.

At the time, the South Burnett Regional Council was assured by then-Agriculture Minister Joel Fitzgibbon that funding was not reliant on the outcome of the Federal Election.

However, shortly after gaining power, the incoming Abbott Coalition Government announced there was no money available to finance many of the Labor Party’s projects, which were seen as unfunded election promises.

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington said today she would be urging the South Burnett Regional Council to apply for the new State Government funding.

She believed Somerset Council would also be interested in the scheme.

The Member for Callide, Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney, is also believed to be keen for the former Murgon to Theebine rail corridor to be developed as a trail.

Mayor Kratzmann said the rail trail program was good news, but he was also thrilled that Kingaroy would be getting a new police station.

And although disappointed, he understood why Kingaroy Hospital had missed out  this time: “It’s a big State and the money has to be shared … we got a police station, we probably couldn’t expect to get both in the same Budget”.

Funding for 20 more country race meetings across the State – which would be allocated by Racing Queensland – was also good news.

Mayor Kratzmann, who is also president of the South Burnett Race Club, said Wondai would probably seek another meeting, and he expected Nanango Race Club may also be interested.

He said the news that various State Government assets had been earmarked for sale after the next election was “fair enough”.

“We knew it was coming,” he said.

He said there would be implications with the sale of Stanwell and parts of SunWater but it would be wrong to pre-judge the possible effects at this stage.

However, the one thing that does have the Mayor worried from the State Budget is the 15 per cent reduction of the Pensioner Concession Rebate on rates.

He said this would mean that the $200 rebate that pensioners currently received on their rates notices would be cut back to $170.

“It’s very disappointing. I understand that it’s coming from the Federal Government and has just been passed on, but things are tough enough without having a shot at the poor old pensioners,” Mayor Kratzmann said.

He said he would be raising the issue with both Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss and Queensland Local Government Minister David Crisafulli.

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9 Responses to "Mayor To Target Rail Trail Funds"

  1. Good to see we may stand a chance to develop the rail trail between the towns in the South Burnett. Not only would this be a great boost to tourism but it would provide a safe facility for bike riders so they don’t have to ride on the highway.

  2. If the business community believe this to be a feasible and profitable venture they have every opportunity to develop this resource, using private funding available from any commercial lending institution.The willingness of tourist-orientated businesses and their supporters to take public money and spend on projects that deliver no services to local communities, in return is at best self serving. Maintenance costs will not be paid by the tourism entertainment industry but rate payers.These proposed trails track through tick into tick-free areas requiring horses to be treated appropriately. Most bicycles commonly used on road are not designed for the terrain or distances encountered along these trails requiring purpose built machines restricting usage. As for foot traffic being a feasible alternative, this is pie in the sky stuff.

  3. I have to disagree with you on this one, Jack. When the Blackbutt-Linville Rail Trail was built I thought it was a complete waste of money, but I’m happy to say I got that wrong. The trail is now in use all through the year and its brought a bucketload of business to Blackbutt since it opened. In fact, it’s worked out so well that Yarraman now want it extended into their town too.

    The Kingaroy-Murgon trail would pass through five South Burnett towns (Kingaroy, Wooroolin, Tingoora, Wondai and Murgon) that would welcome an economic shot in the arm. And since cyclists and horse-riders already use the Blackbutt trail alongside walkers and runners, I don’t see why they couldn’t use the Kingaroy-Murgon one too. So if the Council want to chase money from the State Government to get it going, I say good on them. That’s a better option than chasing it from us.

    • Rod – you’ve got that one wrong. The rail trail extends all the way to Yarraman … or at least from Nukku Road to Yarraman

  4. Is the business community prepared to fund the costs accentuated with these trails or is the taxpayer, ratepayer expected to fund the development and maintenance of these projects? It should be remembered that the vast majority of rates and taxpayers receive no financial benefit at all. Indeed this only adds expense to their cost of living.

  5. I receive no financial benefit from schools. I have no children. By your logic Jack, the governments shouldn’t give them any money. Same could be said for children’s hospitals, council playgrounds. And then there’s swimming pools. I don’t swim. What a waste of council money!! I don’t fish, so stop stocking dams. I don’t fly aircraft, so close all the airports. I buy my books, so I never use libraries. Close them also. There’s plenty of roads I never drive on so let the people who do drive on them actually pay for them. Stock routes, sale yards … I don’t own cattle so stop this waste.

    All these things add to my cost of living. And you know what? I’m glad they do because they make society a better place.

    Just because it doesn’t benefit me personally doesn’t make it wrong.

  6. Thank you for your response Taxpayer 2. I am merely asking the tourism entertainment business community to pay their way as everyone else must. I believe the phrase is user pay. These funds could be used to down pay State Government or council debt, repair roads or build infrastructure beneficial to shire residents and relieve some of the heavy lifting required of rate and taxpayers.

  7. Interesting that there is new funding. In 2012 the State Governmentt cut the funding for maintenance and money to finish off the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, like Victoria did. Have they been refunded? Get ready for the maintenance bill down the track.

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