Northern Rivers Local News
Work on Rail Trail’s new gravel surface starts
Work on Rail Trail’s new gravel surface starts
Construction is ramping up with rail trail set to open in early 2023
Construction work on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail is ramping up with work starting this week on the final gravel surface for the Tweed section of the trail.
After an extended run of dry weather, work to lay down the new compacted gravel surface is starting at several points along the trail including at Burringbar, Stokers Siding and South Murwillumbah.
It will progress at about 300 to 400 metres per day until it is completed later this year.
Project director Iain Lonsdale said he was pleased with progress on the construction of the trail despite the heavy rains and flood event earlier this year.
“Our contractors Hazell Bros are doing a great job and we are very pleased with the progress they have made since the floods,” Mr Lonsdale said.
“Workers have removed almost all of the railway track along the 24km Tweed section of the trail to make way for the new surface so that is a significant milestone.
“Now the focus is shifting to the trail surface itself which will be a compacted gravel surface along the majority of the trail with some asphalt and concrete at the railway stations.
“In January, we laid 2 test sections of the gravel surface and they performed very well during that period of heavy rain and are showing the level of durability we were looking for. We are feeling confident this next phase of works on the trail surface will be a success.”
Construction on the Tweed section of the rail trail scheduled for this month includes:
- restoration works continuing on steel and timber bridges
- construction of numerous bypasses and culverts around existing bridges
- excavation and earthworks
- laying of pipes and drainage
- installation of hardwood decking and other surfaces over bridges
- trail access works.
Mr Lonsdale said the railway track would be recycled and reused in other infrastructure projects including for stabilisation within new building foundations.
“Sustainability has been an important guiding principle for this project and our projections show the recycling of the steel alone will contribute to a fairly significant savings in greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.
“We will also reuse the rail sleepers within the rail trail landscape, including seating, benches as well as retaining the best for reuse in future public structures and art works along the trail.”
Federal Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said: “The rail trail will be a unique opportunity to showcase our beautiful region. It will also provide an important tourism boost for our local economy.”
Member for Tweed Geoff Provest said funding for the rail trail was something he had worked on with Janelle Saffin, the state MP representing Murwillumbah.
“It’s going to be such an important tourism boost for rural communities like Burringbar, Mooball and Crabbes Creek,” Mr Provest said.
When completed, the full length of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail will preserve the 132km scenic rail corridor between Murwillumbah and Casino, creating a safe, car-free connection between the villages and towns along the route.
It will be constructed in 4 stages, each delivered separately by local councils, as funding allows.
The Tweed section will be the first to open by early next year and will connect the rural villages of Crabbes Creek, Mooball, Burringbar and Stokers Siding with Murwillumbah. Trains on the former North Coast line ceased running in 2004.
Funding for the Tweed section was provided by the Australian Government, under its Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Package Fund, and the NSW Government under the Restart NSW fund.
For project updates and more information about the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, visit yoursaytweed.com.au/railtrail.
City landmark falls to start $29.5 mil project
By Tim Howard
A Grafton landmark has disappeared in the past week, but it’s proof that a much awaited facility is on target for a December 2024 opening.
The Grafton Memorial Pool waterslide which dominated the landscaping of the pool grounds for decades has come down and heavy machinery has begun tearing up the pool structures and surrounding ground to begin stage one of the $29.5 million project
The head contractor, Bathurst firm Hines Constructions Pty Ltd, has promised Clarence Valley Council it will complete stage 1 of the project, known as the Regional Aquatic Centre, by December 2024.
The first stage will include the indoor facility, which includes two 25 metre pools.
The 50m outdoor pool will be part of Stage 2 of the project
The start of construction will rule out any use of the Grafton Pool site over the summer.
Heavy machiney at work beginning to demolish the pools as part of stage 1 of the Regional Aquatic Project.
In 2022-23, despite the closure of the pool, the water slide was opened at selected times.
The pool has a close connection to the Grafton community
It’s origins go back to December 11, 1943, when 13 Cub Scouts drowned in the Clarence River returning from a picnic on Susan Island.
Findings from the tragedy revealed most of the boys had not learned to swim and the community resolved to raise funds to build a pool so children could learn to swim at an early age.
The name Grafton Memorial Pool was a reference to the boys that died on that day almost 80 years ago.
After fundraising, construction of the pool began in 1954 and it opened in 1956, the year of the Melbourne Olympics.
In the pool’s first year of operation it was visited by a touring squad of Olympic swimmers which included Sport Australia Hall of Famer, Jon Henricks.
During the visit Henricks competed in the 50m freestyle at a club event which he won in 25.60 seconds before going on to Melbourne to become Australia’s first ever Olympic 100m freestyle champion and set a new world record.
Bathurst builder Hines Constructions won the contract for the $29.5 million build of the Regional Aquatic Facility.
Henricks’ record, which stood for 60 years as the fastest 50m in the Grafton Olympic Pool, was beaten in 2016 by local swimmer Charlie Steele in a time of 25.11 seconds.
Over the years the addition of the waterslide and diving pool turned the facility into a regional attraction which brought visitors to the city.
But the past decade revealed issues at the pool, which included a massive water leak.
It is believed the water escaping from the pool into the ground around it has created a sinkhole responsible for the structural instability which forced the council to close the pool ahead of the 2022-23 swimming season.
The council had developed a shovel-ready plan for the Regional Aquatic Centre, which has been used for the current project.
Future stages will include the 50m outdoor pool and two waterslide.
For more local Grafton news, click here.
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