Join the Mary to Bay Rail Trail Advisory Committee

Fraser Coast residents wanting to help guide the development of the Mary to Bay Rail Trail can apply now to be part of an advisory committee to Council.

Mayor and Committee Chair George Seymour said the Mary to Bay Rail Trail Advisory Committee, first established in 2022, is seeking six community members and key user group representatives to provide recommendations on the trail’s development and management.

“The Mary to Bay Rail Trail, which stretches from Maryborough to the Urangan Pier, follows the now disused rail line that connected the coal mines and farms of Wide Bay Burnett to the Urangan Pier,” he said.

“Local residents and visitors can walk, run and ride through two distinct sections – the urban area of Hervey Bay, and the rural section through beautiful forest areas between Nikenbah and Maryborough, which is progressively being developed.

“Council endorsed the Mary to Bay Trail Development Plan in 2019 and has worked with Fraser Coast Bicycle User Group volunteers and the Queensland Government to refurbish sections of the trail with a new 11-kilometre stretch opening around Takura last year.

“The advisory committee will provide a forum for the community and user groups to make recommendations to Council on opportunities relating to the development and management of the trail into the future.”

The advisory committee includes three Fraser Coast Regional Councillors: Cr Seymour (Chair), Cr Paul Truscott and Cr Lachlan Cosgrove.

The committee also includes Council staff, and representatives from the Department of Transport and Main Roads, and Fraser Coast Tourism and Events.

Interested residents will need to fill in a short nomination form detailing their experience and reasons for wanting to take on the next two-year term.

For more information and to apply visit https://frasercoast.smartygrants.com.au/marytobayrailtrail     Applications are open now and close 27 September, 2024.

A feasibility study conducted for Council found that developing the rail trail could inject $3.2 million into the local economy, providing a tourism drawcard and benefitting locals who want to explore the great outdoors by walking, cycling or riding a horse along the trail.