NSW Government announce $75,000 for Richmond Vale Rail Trail Project

Cessnock City Council will progress the Richmond Vale Rail Trail Project welcoming the NSW Government’s Department of Planning, Industry and Environment announcement they’ll provide $75,000 towards the project.

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This announcement comes after Council urged the NSW Government to assist in funding a specialist role that would be crucial to moving this regionally significant project forward.

Council’s General Manager, Lotta Jackson thanked the NSW Government for their support that will enable Council to engage a specialist consultant.

“This project is identified under the Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan as a high priority. This funding will allow Council to engage a consultant to undertake a series of tasks that will be crucial to the success of the project overall.”

The consultant will prepare a Development Application and other related documentation for a small portion of land that is mapped under the Coastal Management State Environmental Planning Policy adjacent to Pambalong Nature Reserve, Stockrington.

Their responsibilities will also include finalisation of the Review of Environmental Factors, the review of draft concept designs and preparation of a new set of drawings.

The Richmond Vale Rail Trail is a proposed 32-kilometre cycling and walking track along the former Richmond Vale rail line between Kurri Kurri and Hexham, along the former Chichester to Newcastle water pipeline between Shortland and Tarro, and through the Hunter Wetlands National Park.

This is great news for the Richmond Vale Rail Trail project seeing it one step closer to becoming a reality.