THE Rotary Club of Scottsdale's vision of a cycle trail along the former north-east rail route will officially open on November 29, from 11am.
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Project stalwart Robin Thompson said that although festivities would centre around Scottsdale railway station, there would be opportunities for people to be guided in a walk or ride along the trail.
"Rotary District Governor John Dare will perform the opening ceremony," he said.
"An $89,000 contribution a few years ago by the Tasmanian Community Fund really got the project started.
"Fund chairwoman Lynn Mason and Scottsdale Rotary president Jan Hughes will also be at the opening."
Mr Thompson said the club's decision to organise a brass band for the opening was reminiscent of what would have happened when the railway station was first opened.
"That was when the railway came to Scottsdale, back in the late 1880s," he said.
"And although the trail is about cycling, the corridor it follows wouldn't be there had the railway not been there initially, so the two are inextricably linked.
"It's a great opportunity for people to have a bit of a go on the trail and learn about a century of the area's history through the interpretation signs along the way."
Mr Thompson said that an $8000 Australia Post community grant would help the club to build replica railway stations at their former sites at Trewalla, Tulendeena and Kamona.
"The stations will be rest stations with little rainwater tanks off the sides where riders can refill their water bottles," he said.
"We're also working on how we might revamp the Scottsdale railway station and turn it more into a living icon rather than a derelict eyesore."
Mr Thompson said that two Work-for-the-Dole participants had been helping on the station project two days a week and was optimistic the stations would be finished in time for Sunday's opening.
Reports suggested that about 200 people were already using the trail each weekend, he said.