Rev 1 - November 2009 MARY TO THE BAY RAIL TRAIL THE MARYBOROUGH TO HERVEY BAY RAIL TRAIL A CONCEPT AND ROUTE FEASIBILITY REPORT FRASER COAST BICYCLE USER GROUP INC. Principal Investigators Andrew Graham, David Jurss and Dave McLeod Edited by Craig Thompson November 2009 Rev 1 - November 2009 Rev 1 - November 2009 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Colton (north of Maryborough) to Pialba rail line was opened by the Minister of Railways, Mr Robert Philp, on 18 December 1896 with all the appropriate pomp, ceremony and partying befitting the occasion. The rail line was extended to Urangan in 1913. The rail line was used for passenger services and the cartage of freight e.g. sugar cane. For many decades, major events on this line were the annual Railway Picnics with trains coming from as far away as Kingaroy, Monklands (Gympie), North Bundaberg, Cordalba and Maryborough. Train movements were complex and huge numbers of excited passengers would descend on one of Hervey Bay’s beaches for memorable picnics. The Urangan yards would be full of waiting trains often with sets backed out onto the pier as well. Regular passenger services ceased in August 1972. Freight steadily declined in the next couple of decades and Cabinet finally decided in July 1993 that the line would close. In 1995 the line was lifted from Urangan back to Takura. The rail corridor and station sites from Pialba to Urangan were sold with the former Hervey Bay City Council purchasing the majority of the land. The Fraser Coast Regional Council continues to develop a shared path (known as the Links Corridor) along the urban section from Urraween Road (west of Main Street) to the Urangan Pier and the vast majority of this shared path is now constructed or about to be constructed. Since 2004 the Fraser Coast BUG has advocated for the redevelopment of the old rail corridor from Colton to Urangan as a rail trail. This could serve a new wave of tourists who could walk, cycle or ride horses (with some restrictions on access) for recreational purposes. Close to the urban areas the rail trail could also serve as a commuter route. Extension of the trail from Maryborough to Colton would allow Maryborough to be used as the southern terminal. The concept of the Mary to the Bay Rail Trail was conceived, connecting the Mary River at Queens Park to Hervey Bay at the Urangan Pier (see Figure E1). Fraser Coast BUG enlisted the help of Rail Trail advocate Andrew Graham to help develop the Mary to the Bay Rail Trail concepts and alignment, and this report is a summation of the efforts of Andrew and Fraser Coast BUG members in particular David Jurss and Dave McLeod. Figure E1 – Mary to the Bay Rail Trail Alignment Rev 1 - November 2009 After extensive mapping research and fieldwork, it was considered that the only alignment that potentially would meet the criteria for a regionally significant recreation trail would lie along the Urangan – Pialba – Colton – Aldershot – Maryborough route. Consideration was given to another potential alignment based on the disused branch railway from Urraween west as far as Churchill Mines Road, then southwards along Churchill Mines Road to Dundathu and then following the Maryborough to Hervey Bay Road past St Helens Primary School. However, this route was rejected as a first working preference because the levels of recreational rewards were lower than those associated with the preferred alignment via Colton. However, if the Colton-based alignment cannot be developed, the Churchill Mines Road option could be reconsidered. It would also have some value as a link trail for more local and district use in association with the preferred alignment. The most difficult part of the trail to determine an alignment is the section from Maryborough to Colton. A number of alternate alignments using existing unformed roads, existing streets and rail corridors either unused or with very infrequent use were considered. The recommended alignment includes: Trail Section and Option Distance Sub- totals (km) (km) Queens Park to A.J. Zemek Bridge 'Rails with trails' option based on the existing railway corridor from Ferry Option C Street westwards as far as Russell 4.33 Street (refer Figure E2) A.J. Zemek Bridge New rail crossing option to the north of Option E the A.J. Zemek bridge (see Figure E3) 0.45 A.J. Zemek Bridge to intersection of Quarry Rd & Bruce Highway Rail Trail alignment north of the Baddow Option I Infrastructure Depot (see Figure E4) 2.85 Quarry Rd (currently unformed) link Option K including a new rail trail bridge (see 1.00 8.63 Figure E4) Quarry Rd intersection to Aldershot Park 3.38 See Figure E5 Aldershot to Colton 3.43 See Figure E6 & E7 Colton to first branchline level crossing 0.83 7.64 First level crossing to Churchill Mines Rd 5.30 Churchill Mines Rd to old Takura station 7.20 Old Takura station to Nikenbah (Chapel Rd) 7.89 Nikenbah (Chapel Rd) to Urraween Road (west 3.99 24.38 of Main St intersection) TOTAL 40.65 Rev 1 - November 2009 Figure E2 – Queens Park to A.J. Zemek Bridge Figure E3 –A.J. Zemek Bridge Rev 1 - November 2009 Figure E4 –A.J. Zemek Bridge to intersection of Quarry Rd & Bruce Highway Figure E5 –Quarry Rd Intersection to Aldershot Park Rev 1 - November 2009 Figure E6–Section through Aldershot Rev 1 - November 2009 Figure E7–Aldershot north to Colton The disused railway from the old Colton junction to Urangan represents the true rail trail section of the proposed Mary to the Bay Rail Trail. The western section from Colton junction to old Takura station remains in exclusive State ownership although it is no longer connected to the main railway system. Many items of railway infrastructure (including most bridges) remain in place although the rails have been removed in several locations along the line and some bridges have been damaged in bushfires. Rev 1 - November 2009 The eastern section, from Takura to Urraween Road (west of Main Street), already is leased from the State by the Fraser Coast Regional Council (as an ‘inherited’ lease) with a view to development of a rail trail. All rails, sleepers and bridge infrastructure have been removed in this eastern section but all culverts remain in a functioning condition and sound condition. All drains at all old level crossings are functioning but the small cattle-grid spans, typically 2.8 m (9 foot 3 inches) across, have been removed and will require replacement. For this true rail trail section, there is trail-development considerations which require addressing early in the planning process, including: • Alignment and infrastructure tenure and transfer processes • Bridge retention/condition and conversion/replacement options • Assessment of specific trail safety criteria (particularly fire and flood issues) • The nature and possible trail surface treatments of the ballasted railway roadbed • Options for providing for and managing multiple recreation user groups (walkers, horses, cyclists) at stream crossings. In the case of the Mary to the Bay Rail Trail, protection of the remaining bridges from fire damage will be essential to preserve future options for their use in a recreational trail. To maximize trail planning options, this is an important and high priority task. Figure E8 to E11 show the bridge locations. Figure E8 – Colton Branch First level Crossing to Churchill Mines Road Rev 1 - November 2009 Figure E9 –Churchill Mines Road to Takura Station Figure E10 –Takura Station to Nikenbah Rev 1 - November 2009 Figure E11 –Nikenbah to Urraween Road (west of Main Street) This concept and route feasibility report is intended to form the basis of subsequent development of a “vision” statement for the Mary to the Bay Rail Trail outlining the standard of facility, cost, tourism potential, staging and ongoing maintenance and management arrangements. It is hoped that Fraser Coast BUG could develop this vision statement in conjunction with staff and Councillors from the Fraser Coast Regional Council and interested parties within the wider community. Details of this report may be copied and used on a “not for profit” basis providing full acknowledgement is given to the Fraser Coast Bicycle User Group Inc. Rev 1 - November 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Brief history of the Mary to the Bay Rail Trail proposal.............................................. 1 1.2 Existing support in strategies, plans and endorsements............................................ 2 1.3 Current Queensland regional recreation trail developments...................................... 2 1.4 Recreation trail opportunities in the Fraser Coast region........................................... 2 1.5 Approach and report format ....................................................................................... 3 1.6 Land tenure................................................................................................................ 4 2. COLTON-URANGAN BRANCH RAILWAY HISTORY ...................................................... 5 3. TRAIL PROPOSAL - MARYBOROUGH TO COLTON...................................................... 7 3.1 District Section - Maryborough to Bruce Highway ..................................................... 7 3.1.1 Local Section - Queens Park to A. J. Zemek Bridge...................................... 7 3.1.2 Local Section - A. J. Zemek Bridge (footpath and by-pass options).............. 9 3.1.3 Local Section - A. J. Zemek Bridge north to intersection of Quarry Road and Bruce Highway........................................................................................................