That’s why I commissioned Treasury to undertake a detailed report regarding both the North-East Rail Cycling Trail put forward by Dorset Council, and the alternative tourist and heritage rail operation proposed by Launceston and North East Rail (L&NER) on the redundant North-East Rail corridor.

Both proposals clearly have strong support in the community, and having carefully considered the Treasury report, whilst it is clear that heritage rail carries with it more financial risk, both projects have the capacity to generate economic and employment benefits.

We will always stand up for jobs in regional Tasmania and our view is that both parties deserve the opportunity to develop this valuable asset in their own way, with each being granted access to separate parts of the corridor.

Allowing both proponents use of the rail corridor will maximise the chances of both projects becoming viable tourist attractions to the benefit of everyone in the state’s North-East.

Our proposal for the corridor will allow a cycle trail to be established on the Scottsdale to Lilydale Falls section of the North-East rail line, with a walking and cycle pathway to be created adjacent to the road between Lilydale Falls and Lilydale township. 

To facilitate the heritage rail, the section from Lilydale to Turners Marsh will be offered as the first stage to allow the proponents to gain accreditation and operate a heritage railservice.  

Subject to successful completion of the first stage, the section from Turners Marsh to Coldwater Creek will be made available and subject to accreditation and scheduling access to the main Launceston to George Town line will be considered as well.

This will provide a heritage rail experience over a total of around 21.5 kilometres of non-operational line between Coldwater Creek and Lilydale, as well as access to the 52-kilometre TasRail operational line between Launceston and Bell Bay.  

This is subject to accreditation and scheduling.

In terms of cycling, it allows the Dorset Council to continue what they have started with the existing rail trail between Scottsdale and Billycock Hill being extended to Lilydale, providing around 70 kilometres of cycleways in total.

The Hodgman Government is committed to spreading the benefits of our tourism boom into our regional areas and should they proceed, these two projects will be fantastic for everyone in the state’s North-East. 

Importantly, allowing both parties to develop their projects will minimise the costs and risks involved to each party and maximise the chances of both projects becoming viable tourist attractions that will create jobs and add to the North-East economy.

This has been a highly emotive debate and we hope that both parties grasp the opportunity and get on with building and delivering their own project rather than spending time debating the merits of the other.

There is great potential for cycling and heritage rail tourism on Tasmania’s non-operational rail network.

What we have proposed provides the opportunity to deliver a unique mix of both, and we now look forward to the proponents bringing their visions to reality.