Looking Forward by Looking Back – Some RVRT and Related Timelines – September 16th 2025

​Looking Forward by Looking Back – Some RVRT and Related Timelines – September 16th 2025

Facebook Post – RVRT Supporters’ Group – September 16th 2025
https://www.facebook.com/richmondrailtrail/posts/pfbid029QP3CvxutR26bhtiV6TNueVDEvAzXFR25GNcZBneey2fd5pQ6SwuthosSCoQtyvHl

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While, at times, Richmond Vale Rail Trail (RVRT) progress appears to be painfully slow … it is useful to (periodically) reflect upon what has been achieved and the core ingredients that are likely to make the RVRT an ongoing success, both at a regional and a local community level. These include:  its industrial, rail and regional heritage; scenic beauty, biodiversity and indigenous heritage (coastal wetlands, ranges and nature reserves); and its anticipated contribution to everyday life (recreation and healthy lifestyles, active transport, economic growth, and cycling and eco-tourism) – as well as the RVRT’s future regional contribution as a central element within the proposed broader Shiraz to Shore (S2S) cycle trail.
 
It is now 8 years since the highly successful ‘Towards the Richmond Vale Rail Trail’ book was launched by the Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment (TFI), in conjunction with an ‘Active Transport’ Conference at the University of Newcastle – See Pic01. 

Pic01 - Retrospective - TFI Book and Conference

The Local Rail & Coal Histories presented in the ‘Towards the RVRT’ book are captured in Timeline form in Pic02 and Pic03 – including the 130-year history of private coal haulage by steam locomotives (from 1857 to 1987).

Pic02 - First Timeline Block - Sept 2025

The right-hand column of Pic03 also identifies some of the local Nature Reserves, Conservation Areas and associated Corridors that have been established during the past four decades – which collectively adds weight to our claim that the RVRT will provide a ‘Conservation Conduit’ to previously inaccessible areas, together with valued linkages between metropolitan and rural communities and attractions.

Pic03 - Second Timeline Block - Sept 2025

​The historic Map (from the 1920s) presented in Pic04 identifies some of the infrastructure that was in place 100 years ago, including local collieries, rail lines and water pipelines. By contrast, Pic05 touches on the enduring significance of the Hexham Wetlands area (‘Burraghihnbihng’) in Indigenous culture and heritage.

Pic04 - Historical Map of Richmond Vale Railway - 1920s

Pic05 - Indigenous Context

Some of the RVRT-related ‘Planning & Promotion’ milestones to date are summarised in Pic06 and Pic07. The left-hand column of Pic06 presents a brief account of some of the community discussions and investigations that took place during the first 20 years after the closure of the Richmond Vale Railway in 1987.

Pic06 - Third Timeline Block - Sept 2025

Active RVRT planning has really been underway now for over a decade – signalled by the completion of a detailed Feasibility Study in 2014. Subsequently, between 2016 and 2023, comprehensive environmental, geotechnical, heritage and socio-economic assessments were undertaken, together with associated consultation, which has contributed to several concept-level RVRT approvals (see Pic07). Indeed, the 5-year approval window for the Eastern RVRT Section (within Newcastle LGA) will lapse in December 2026 if some substantive RVRT construction has not been undertaken by that time.
 
By way of a Hunter Region comparison, the popular Fernleigh Track utilised the former Belmont railway line, which closed in December 1991. The Fernleigh Track sections between Adamstown and Belmont opened in stages between 2003 and 2011; while the recent Fernleigh Awabakal Shared Track (FAST) extension (from Belmont to Blacksmiths) opened in August 2024.
 
As displayed in Pic07, it is also more than 12 months since Hunter Joint Organisation of Councils (Hunter JO) released a finalised S2S Concept Plan, Business Case and Marketing Plan, together with an overall Hunter Cycle Tourism Strategy (August 2024) – so, it is also time to review and refine this proposal and to move the Composite S2S/RVRT forward.

Pic07 - Fourth Timeline Block - Sept 2025

Finally, as highlighted in Pic08, we need to acknowledge the substantial effort that has been made during the past three decades to preserve and protect the historic RVRT route and the Stockton to Watagans Green Corridor that hosts most of the trail [endeavours that are still continuing].
 
In reality, many millions of dollars of public infrastructure funding have already been devoted to these tasks – we just need to get on with finishing the job!

Pic08 - Fifth Timeline Block - Sept 2025

Again, thanks to Everyone who has contributed to Protection, Development, Refinement and Promotion of the RVRT (and the broader S2S cycle trail proposal).
 
CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK WELCOME.

RVRT Supporters’ Group (RVRT Inc.) Contact Information:
WEBSITE:  https://richmondalerailtrail.org.au/ 
​FACEBOOK:  https://www.facebook.com/richmondrailtrail/
​

​President:  Terry Lewin
Email:  [email protected]
Telephone:  0404 439 616 (Terry)
 
Vice-President:  Leigh Gibbens
Email:  [email protected]
Telephone:  0433 570 920 (Leigh)

​Secretary & Treasurer:  Sam Reich
Email:  [email protected]
Telephone:  0418 402 644 (Sam)
 
Founding President:  Billy Metcalfe
Email:  [email protected]
Telephone:  0417 453 152 (Billy)