February 4, 2016
The Kingaroy-Murgon Rail Trail will be sealed with bitumen after the South Burnett Regional Council voted on Wednesday to accept a $635,000 tender from a local business to undertake the work.
In response to a question from Cr Ros Heit about when residents could expect to begin using the trail, Natural Resources and Parks manager Greg Griffiths said the bitumening was expected to be completed by late July, weather permitting. Work on the bridges would be completed at the same time.
Mayor Wayne Kratzmann said the rail trail was “an amazing project” and that a bitumen surface would guarantee that events like a triathlon would come to the South Burnett.
He said the trail would be different to what was happening in the southern region because it was predominantly following the highway.
However, it would help to rejuvenate the small towns dotted along its route as well as giving a boost to Kingaroy, Wondai and Murgon.
He said that in three of four years, or maybe even earlier, there would be “a wonderful flood of people” coming out to spend their money in the South Burnett which would become a “recreational hub” in Queensland.
Cr Barry Green agreed, but told fellow Councillors the job was still only half done.
“What we have to do now is join Blackbutt to Kingaroy,” Cr Green said.
“Because Somerset Council will be embarking on hooking up Moore to Toogoolawah … we have to get Blackbutt connected to Kingaroy.
“There are a couple of alternative routes we could use.
“There is a natural link that goes to Yarraman, and we can go from Yarraman to Nanango up the stock route. We can then go on the Old Coach Road to connect Nanango to Blackbutt.
“That is a natural five-hour trek on a mountain bike which people are using today, actually.”
He said that when Ipswich was effectively linked to Gympie, the South Burnett would see the big benefit from the Rail Trail.
“We haven’t even scratched the surface,” he said.
He said the Rail Trail as it now is was attracting 37,000 visitors a year.
“Don’t lose sight of the fact that it is only half done. We have to get Blackbutt connected to Kingaroy and then we are laughing,” Cr Green said.
Cr Keith Campbell said anyone who was making negative comments about the Rail Trail should visit Blackbutt.
“One of the people I was speaking with said as far as the negative comments that float around from time to time, just send them down to Blackbutt to talk to the businesspeople there in terms of the impact that it has had on their business,” he said.
“They’re very, very positive.
“Cr Palmer has told us that, and I heard it with my own ears over the weekend.”
South Burnett Bobcat Services submitted the winning tender.
Related articles:
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- Historic Bridge Gets Health Check
- New Round Of Rail Trail Meetings
- Rail Trail’s Final Costings Almost Ready
- Rail Trail Work Starting Soon
- Funding Split Up Agreed For Rail Trail
- Meet The Kingaroy-Murgon Rail Trail
- Rail Trail Meetings Begin Next Week
- Horses Still Possible On Rail Trail
- Trail Consultations Start In January
- Rail Trail Project Ticks Off Local Farmers
- Triathlon Hope For Rail Trail
- Mayor Expects Small Rail Trail Bill
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If this were proper sealed bitumen, as in having a surface NOT consisting of dangerous loose stones sprinkled over tar resembling sump oil, then forget it! Such a surface would require long-term costly maintenance, much of which would create patchy bumps, much like our roads (proven budget maintenance resolves will be the same.) Then there is flood damage, not cheap to repair/replace large washed-out sections. There are many lower-laying gullys along this trail vunerable to this. The original plan was to utilise rammed earth. This was cheap to maintain and cost-effective. Such a plan allowed funding to be diverted into facilities, and ‘street scaping’ along the trail, in towns, thus encouraging tourism.
Other facilities NOT included are ‘outhouses,’ shelters with water access such as drinking fountains, even repairing and upgrading parks.
This tender is a massive chunk of the budget for an unfavourable outcome providing a surface that holds little long-term value for money, and robs this section of the project of precious funding.
The plan had somehow changed, and I don’t believe there has been a lot of public consultation on this. In fact this article is the first I’ve heard regarding the change to the surface!
Yes, I intend to ride this rail trail, as will my small children. Apart from the little people, racing bicycles would benefit from a bitumen surface, but only if it isn’t a loose or rough surface. Any surface to the contrary is dangerous, an unfavourable blunder indeed. I don’t believe the allocated funds cover any worthy surface either, so I presume this will be the case? I certainly wouldn’t want to come off a high speed bicycle on such a surface! I’ve ridden the surface laid on the Nanango circuit and it’s a goat track (like some of our cheap roads.) Also, only once a year would Cycling Australia utilize it during a one day event, until they change the venue again.
Furthermore this rail trail corridor is on loan from State Government. Compared to the rammed-earth option, bitumen is not an environmentally friendly choice, when one day it will all need to be ripped up again, then used elsewhere or put into stockpile.
I’m also concerned for the funding allocated to the other Kilkivan section rail trail. If such a massive chunk of the budget is being directed into this change of surface, as well as the bridges, railings, and other expenses taking up the rest, no doubt plus some more, how much funding is going to be robbed from the other section to achieve completion from Kingaroy to Murgon I wonder? We’ll see when the piggy bank needs to be smashed, Kilkivan has a whinge, and the State Government has to pick up the pieces.
Something previously planned has to be left out surely? I don’t get how the budget on this can swing so wildly? The cost between rammed-earth and bitumen is significant.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the rail trail and many choices to construct it, but it seems to be steering away from the original economical plan, to something else not viable. There will be a trade-off leaving ratepayers and trail users unhappy with such decisions pushed upon them.
Too late though people, Council made their own mind up for us, put it to tender, and are now signing a contract to spend State Government funding. The same company that won the tender could also have gone down the rammed-earth path.
Lobbying after election? Who is going to listen anyway?
As a mountain biker and someone who works with bitumen for a living, I really don’t think sealing the rail trail is a good idea. The bulk of cyclists who ride trails like this want to ride dirt and gravel tracks, I’m sure horse riders would be the same. Plus a bitumen seal will require removal of the ballast or overlay with gravel to have a suitable surface. What a blatant waste of money.
Two questions: what was the cost of the rammed earth solution, given the Council said last September that sealing the trail was always going to be the biggest single cost component? And who said we’re building the Murgon-Kilkivan section? The $2 million grant for the Kingaroy-Kilkivan rail trail got divvied up between the South Burnett and Gympie some time ago. The South Burnett got $1.4 million and Gympie got $600,000.
To Rod Long, you said “we’re”? I’ve read some of your opinions, and don’t believe you’re affiliated with council, but I will say this.
I am aware of the divided $2 million State funding for the project/s. I can’t be sure that is a concrete arrangement because the Kingaroy to Murgon section was still to go through work assessments after the funding was split. But of the approximate allocated funds to build the Kingaroy section, $635,000… need I be repetitive. There is no way rammed-earth would have cost as much, both short and long-term. I don’t believe there was an announcement of such cost compared to bitumen, or is it botchumen?
We can’t have the public comparing the two apples now can they? The announcement was however that after traveling to NSW, and seeing the success, and cost-effectiveness rammed-earth has there, it was decided that it was the surface of choice. Never mind the cost comparison between the two grades of surfaces.
Not to worry, I’ll enjoy whatever they decide, who knows, I may not be around when it fills up with pot holes, and patches, if it does get maintained.
Who would also think that if a mega coal mine opens South of Kingaroy, that the rail corridor be possibly reopened to heavy rail for moving excess coal to Northern Coal Ports for export?
The future is yet to be written, so let’s not be too assuming I suppose. The State will do what is best for the State, and a little $2 milliom project like a rail trail, nor the town minority will stand in the way; ie. There are much bigger detrimental long-term concerns for Kingaroy in motion than this.
Dysart, Moranbah is a good example, if you catch my drift. It will literally be a matter of “on your bike” for renters if that big coal mine goes ahead.
Sorry, my bad … I meant “they’re”. Guess this is what I get for using an iPad late at night. But re rammed earth vs bitumen, I’m going to keep an open mind on this until it’s built. The council employs professional engineers to look at all options and make the best long-term decisions, and I’m not an engineer so I’m willing to defer to their expertise. Time will tell, as you say, so let’s wait and see.