Mary Valley Rail Trail Association volunteers Chrissy Thomson and Anita Staley support the rail trail extension. (ABC Rural: Jennifer Nichols) The romance of rail is finding new relevance on tracks long abandoned by trains, putting country towns on the map as popular holiday destinations.
Used by walkers, cyclists, and horse riders, Australia’s 100 active rail trails attract hundreds of thousands of people every year, injecting money and life into regional communities. The Imbil to Brooloo track is already popular with recreational cyclists.(ABC Rural: Jennifer Nichols) Now the nation’s rail trail enthusiasts are one step closer to an exciting new nature experience in the Mary Valley, around a two-hour drive north of Brisbane.
A leafy 4.7-kilometre track already connects Brooloo to the bustling community of Imbil, travelling through a bellbird colony.
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Detailed design work will begin in February on a $19 million plan to extend the Mary Valley Rail Trail to 22 kilometres over historic bridges, through country towns, and rolling hills.
A resounding 92 per cent of 548 survey respondents supported extending the trail through Kandanga to Amamoor where it would meet up with the Mary Valley Rattler steam train. The Mary Valley Rattler still runs from Gympie to Amamoor.(Supplied: Mary Valley Rattler) The Mary Valley Rattler still runs from Gympie to Amamoor. (Supplied: Mary Valley Rattler) Photographers love capturing Imbil’s rail bridge over Yabba Creek.(ABC Rural: Jennifer Nichols) Photographers love capturing images of Imbil’s rail bridge at Yabba Creek. (ABC Rural: Jennifer Nichols) The Mary Valley Rattler passes through beautiful country.(ABC Rural: […]
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