FUNDING FOR RAIL TRAIL RIPPED FROM BUSHFIRE-AFFECTED COMMUNITY

Published on 25 November 2024

Glen Innes Severn Council has been dealt a crushing blow with the abrupt withdrawal of $8.7 million in funding for the New England Rail Trail by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). This funding, initially announced by Barnaby Joyce in 2021, was secured through the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund (BLERF) to aid communities like Glen Innes in recovering from the devastation of the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires.

The decision, conveyed in correspondence from Deputy Secretary James Bolton, came without empathy, consultation, or consideration for the enormous impact on Glen Innes and the broader region. Citing missed project deadlines, the Department ignored the root causes: bureaucratic inertia and state-level delays beyond the Council's control.

Council had committed $170,000 of its own funds to commence survey works required under the NSW Rail Trails Framework. Yet, despite this commitment, it took a staggering 12 months for the State Government entity responsible, to grant access to the rail corridor for essential environmental and site assessments—delays directly attributable to government inefficiencies.

Mayor Margot Davis expressed profound disappointment, stating, “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.”

The funding, unless reinstated, will revert to the State and Federal Governments, robbing Glen Innes of transformative economic and social benefits.

Bureaucratic Delays Undermine Progress
Council has highlighted the hypocrisy of the decision. While the Department of Primary Industry and Regional Development blamed Council for not meeting deadlines, it was state agencies that caused the delays by stalling essential approvals for over a year. The irony is stark: the very environmental impact investigations cited as incomplete were delayed by the same government agencies now using them as a reason to withdraw support.

“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.”

A Call for Reinstatement
Glen Innes Severn Council remains steadfast in its commitment to the New England Rail Trail. The Council has formally appealed to The Hon. Jenny McAllister, Minister for Emergency Management, and The Hon. Tara Moriarty, Minister for Regional NSW, calling for a fair review of the decision and the reinstatement of funding.

Mayor Davis concluded, “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. We urge the State and Federal Governments to reconsider and honour their commitment to bushfire-impacted communities.”

Council’s fight for the Rail Trail project exemplifies the determination of regional communities to rise above adversity and build a brighter future. Now, the onus is on government leaders to match that resolve with action.