November 30, 2016
The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Users Association is asking supporters of the former rail link to write letters to back a funding application.
President Paul Heymans said Somerset Regional Council was applying to the Federal Government’s “Building Better Regions Fund” for the extra $1 million-plus required to complete the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail.
“They need letters of support from the BVRT business and user community to help get the funding application over the line,” Mr Heymans said.
“To be competitive the application must score highly against all of the criteria, including economic and social benefits, value for money and ability to deliver the project.
“If you’re a business owner who benefits from Brisbane Valley Rail Trail tourism or a user who enjoys the recreational, fitness and social benefits, it would be great if you could write a letter to Somerset Regional Council supporting the application and outlining the ways in which you benefit from the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail.”
The extra funding is required to complete the last unfinished section of the trail, which stretches from Yarraman to Wulkuraka (at Ipswich).
“Toogoolawah to Moore (30 km) remains as the only unfinished section,” Mr Heymans said.
“But with the number of creek and road crossings it’s also the most challenging, and in civil construction terms, challenging means more expensive.
“Despite the generous offer by the Queensland Government of $1.8 million, the work has been costed at closer to $3.1 million if the work is to be done to a robust standard that will benefit all users without incurring heavy maintenance costs.”
Mr Heymans said letters of support should be marked “attention Geoffrey Smith” and can be sent by email, by fax to (07) 5424-4099, or posted to Somerset Regional Council, PO Box 117, Esk, 4312.
