{"id":215019,"date":"2018-08-07T21:56:10","date_gmt":"2018-08-07T11:56:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=215019"},"modified":"2020-07-06T16:11:56","modified_gmt":"2020-07-06T06:11:56","slug":"longest-rail-trail-now-officially-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/08\/07\/longest-rail-trail-now-officially-open\/","title":{"rendered":"Longest Rail Trail Now Officially Open"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Assistant Minister for State Development Julianne Gilbert , Somerset Mayor Graeme Lehmann, Federal Minister for Regional Development John McVeigh and Opposition Leader and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington officially open the last section of the BVRT at Harlin (Photo: SRC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n


End-to-End
\nCycle Challenge
\nReady To Ride<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail 24-hour E2E Ultra Extreme Challenge Ride will be run along the full length of the BVRT later this month.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The end-to-end cycling event, being organised by the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Users Association, will begin on Friday, August 24, at 10:00pm in Esk and will run all night and the following day.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It has been billed as Australia\u2019s toughest 24-hour rail trail ultra endurance cycling event.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cyclists will ride from Esk to Wulkuraka Station in Ipswich, then turn around and ride the full length of the BVRT to Yarraman, then turn around and ride back to Esk.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The event will be the first BVRT Ultra Extreme 322km bike race on the fully completed rail trail, including the new section from Toogoolawah to Moore.<\/strong><\/p>\n

First prize is a weekend holiday for two at Wikirri B&B Resort in Blackbutt.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

August 7, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s longest continuous hiking, cycling and horse riding rail trail is now a reality with the official completion of the final stage of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail.<\/p>\n

The official opening of the recently completed Toogoolawah-to-Moore section occurred at Harlin on Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Opposition Leader and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington, Somerset Mayor Graeme Lehmann, Assistant Minister for State Development Julianne Gilbert and Federal Minister for Regional Development John McVeigh.<\/p>\n

Member for Ipswich West Jim Madden said the State Government had contributed $1.8 million towards works to complete this final link of the rail trail.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis completes a long-standing vision for a continuous 161km trail delivering a unique and exciting recreational experience for bushwalkers, cyclists and horse riders,\u201d Mr Madden said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis innovative recreational trail follows the disused Brisbane Valley rail corridor from Wulkuraka, west of Ipswich, to Yarraman, west of Kilcoy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks to the imagination and commitment of the local community and the support of all three levels of government, we now have a trail which would rival the Otago Rail Trail in New Zealand and the Great Victorian Rail Trail in Victoria.\u201d<\/p>\n

Somerset Mayor Graeme Lehmann said he was proud the trail was now completed and that the economic and tourism benefits for the community would be far reaching. <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cCouncil is so proud of its achievements in being able to secure more than $3 million in funding to have this section of the rail trail completed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCouncil thanks both the Queensland Government for its funding of $1.8 million and the Australian Government for its funding of $1.45 million which has helped to make Australia\u2019s longest recreational rail trail a reality.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Brisbane Valley Rail Trail will be a generator of jobs across the entire 161km linking towns and benefitting business in Wulkuraka, Fernvale, Lowood, Coominya, Esk, Toogoolawah, Harlin, Moore, Linville, Benarkin, Blackbutt and Yarraman.<\/p>\n

\u201cCouncil\u2019s main objective with this project has been to increase the economic activity of Somerset, bring new business and life into the region and support active and healthy communities through outdoor activities.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are excited about the tourism potential that this new asset will have on our rural community and the increased employment and economic development opportunities it will create.\u201d<\/p>\n

Assistant Minister for State Development Julieanne Gilbert said works on the latest section started in 2017 and included major crossings at Ivory Creek, Emu Creek and Wallaby Creek and several road crossings across the D\u2019Aguilar Highway and the Brisbane Valley Highway.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cFurther works included various minor road and creek crossings, refurbishment of Jimmy Gully Bridge, grids, gates and signs,” she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no question the effort and expense will be worth it for all south-east Queensland, providing recreation and tourism benefits along with economic development opportunities throughout the region.”<\/p>\n

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the government was committed to further develop other sections of the rail trail to ensure it was a world-class tourism asset and major drawcard for national and international visitors to the region.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis includes a $4.5 million refurbishment of the Heritage-listed Lockyer Creek Railway Bridge.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe historic bridge is a key feature of the trail and once restored will provide an important link and further enhance this major tourist attraction for the region.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the official opening: Sue Hudd; Somerset Mayor Graham Lehmann; Craig Eastment; Paul Heymans, from the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Users Association, and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington … Sue and Craig, from Harlin, have recently launched a new business, “Heartland Heavy Horses”, based around the BVRT (Photo: Nanango Electorate Office)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
One of the upgraded bridges on the latest section of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail … this one is near near Harlin (Photo: Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Users Association)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

[UPDATED]<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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