The saga of the New England Rail Trail has taken another turn, with bushfire recovery funding allocated to the project being pulled by the NSW Government.
Glen Innes Severn Council has described the decision to withdrawal the $8.7 million in funding for their part of the New England Rail Trail by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) ‘ a crushing blow’.
The decision, conveyed in correspondence from Deputy Secretary James Bolton, cited missed project deadlines, but Glen Innes Severn Mayor Margot Davies said they ignored the bureaucratic inertia and state-level delays beyond the Council’s control that was the root cause of the issues.
“This project was the single most significant economic opportunity our community has ever seen.
“To have this funding stripped is not just a heartless decision—it’s an act of indifference to rural communities that have endured natural disaster after natural disaster. It disregards the resilience and effort our region has shown in trying to rebuild.”
Council had committed $170,000 of its own funds to commence survey works required under the NSW Rail Trails Framework but the State Government stymied progress, taking over 12 months to grant access to the rail corridor for essential environmental and site assessments, preventing the development of the required environmental impact statement within the required timeframe.
“Tens of millions in capital investment and sustained economic benefits have been stolen from our community,” Mayor Davis continued.
“This is not just a setback for Glen Innes—it’s a devastating blow for regional NSW. Bureaucratic roadblocks and political indifference have derailed a project that could have transformed our region for generations.”
The Council has formally appealed to Jenny McAllister, the Federal Minister for Emergency Management, and Tara Moriarty, Minister for Regional NSW, calling for a fair review of the decision and the reinstatement of funding.
“Natural disasters leave scars that take years to heal. Economic stimulus funding is not just a gesture—it’s an investment in recovery, resilience, and the future.
“Projects like the New England Rail Trail are legacy initiatives. They don’t just rebuild—they strengthen, inspire, and unite communities,” Mayor Davis said.
“We urge the State and Federal Governments to reconsider and honour their commitment to bushfire-impacted communities.”
It is understood Armidale’s funding for their part of the Rail Trail has also been withdrawn, but this was from a different federal grant program. The Armidale part of the Rail Trail concept has always been far more contentious and caused significant disagreements within the previous Council. The main difference in posture of the projects is the physical rail line itself: north of Glen Innes the rail line has already been cut by an alteration to the New England Highway, but between Armidale and Glen Innes the line is still viable. To return rail transport north to Queensland, a section of the line north of Glen Innes would need to be constructed anew regardless.
Those seeking the return of train travel north were quick to welcome the news.
“We’re not celebrating a set-back for the cycling community,” said Matthew Tierney, President of Trains North.
“Many members of our association are cyclists themselves. We look forward to the development of further cycleways in this region and to the day when regional trains have more bike-friendly onboard accommodation.”
Trains North’s newly elected Vice President, Margaret O’Connor, who failed to win re-election in September, hoped that the withdrawal of funds for the two bike trail segments would lead to the end of the harsh division that these proposed projects have caused between some in our communities,
between friends, families and neighbours.
“Let’s pursue the vision to develop modern rail freight and passenger transport linking our region with Sydney and south-east Queensland, without the distracting idea that tourism, welcome as it is, should be the only option for growth in our region,” said Mrs O’Connor.
Trains North says it will step up its efforts to have the northern train line, including the currently disused section between Armidale and the Queensland border, integrated into a modern state and national rail freight logistics network.
More to come.
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