It’s Time to Start Constructing the Richmond Vale Rail Trail (RVRT)Facebook Post – RVRT Supporters’ Group – April 27th 2026 https://www.facebook.com/richmondrailtrail/posts/pfbid0in38cGK41TAy4KK4TXGoNZS8hdF8bRhQPKkxSUmzJMe52VdACcAfqgCcXJ71bzLpl Download Content 
 We have reached somewhat of a ‘Crunch-Point’ when it comes to planning for and construction of the proposed Richmond Vale Rail Trail (RVRT) in the Hunter Valley (NSW, Australia). The long-planned 32km+ RVRT route will traverse three LGAs (Cessnock, Lake Macquarie and Newcastle); it also forms the critical Middle or "Rail Trail and Wetlands Zone" section of the proposed broader, cross-regional 120km Composite Shiraz to Shore (S2S/RVRT) Shared Pathway between Wine Country and the Shores of Newcastle Harbour/Beach and Lake Macquarie. [Please see our Updated S2S/RVRT Presentation (March 2026) for further background, details and discussion: https://www.richmondvalerailtrail.org.au/news/updated-presentation-about-composite-s2srvrt-shared-pathway-hunter-valley-nsw-march-2026]. RVRT-related planning requirements and approvals vary along the route, influenced by a mixture of factors, including the terrain (e.g., coastal wetlands, ranges, urban/rural) and usage/management factors (e.g., public/private ownership, heritage considerations, prevailing Plans of Management). While the existing Concept-level RVRT approvals based on Reviews of Environmental Factors (REFs) are largely not time limited, those based on formal Development Applications (DAs) tend to have 5-year Approval Windows. This includes the existing major Concept-level approval within Newcastle LGA (DA 2020/00641), which will lapse in December this year if appropriate construction has not commenced. So … We need all of the RVRT’s Supporters, Advocates, Planners and Potential Funders to work together to ensure, firstly, that the existing DA Approvals do not lapse, and secondly, that there is ongoing, progressive and staged RVRT construction from here on – building on all of the good work and efforts during the past 20 years (not to mention the many $100,000’s of dollars already spent). Some specific suggestions/steps for everyone to contemplate are listed below: 1. Draft Council Budgets. Please consider making a Brief Submission about City of Newcastle’s Draft Updated Delivery Program 2025-2029 and Operational Plan 2026/2027, which is expected to go on Public Exhibition after Tuesday night’s Council Meeting (28/4/2026) – see Pic01 - Link to Have Your Say: https://haveyoursay.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/DN2040. Currently, there is no specific mention of any budget allocation for the RVRT, despite the need for some construction work to be undertaken before the end of this year (to avoid the lapse of DA 2020/00641). Likewise, there is no identified allocation of funds for potential land acquisition costs, despite related authorisations at the December 9th 2025 Council Meeting (Item 10.2). [However, it should be noted that some funds may have already been set aside for these actions, which are not itemised in the current Draft Operational Plan].  Pic01: Public Exhibition of City of Newcastle’s Draft Updated Delivery Program 2025-2029 and Operational Plan 2026/2027 – which is Item 9.1 in Tuesday night’s Council Meeting Agenda (28/4/2026). We would like to encourage everyone to make a brief submission, preferably requesting the allocation of additional funds to help move the RVRT and associated projects forward. Link: (https://haveyoursay.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/DN2040) 2. Capital Works Challenges. Given current local and global uncertainties, and the need for financial stability, it is perhaps unsurprising that Council’s Draft Capital Works Budget is $26m lower than last year’s allocation – see Pic02 for an overview. The Introduction to the Draft Report (Page 6) also suggests that approx. $4.3m is being allocated to cycleways projects – which is comparable to the $4.1m detailed in last year’s budget – however, among the items reported in the Capital Works Program (Pages 144 to 157), there are only a limited number of actual ‘Cycleways’ or ‘Shared Pathway’ projects, most of which have no 2026/2027 Budget Allocation, despite being categorised as ‘Delivery’ Stage.  Pic02: Extracted Pages (92-93) from City of Newcastle’s Draft Updated Delivery Program 2025-2029 and Operational Plan 2026/2027 – The Draft Capital Works Budget is $26m lower than last year’s allocation [2025/2026: $154.5m]. 3. Minmi to Fletcher (via Minmi Junction) RVRT Segments. Based on advice received, we have previously identified the Minmi to Fletcher RVRT segments as the most likely RVRT construction starting point within Newcastle LGA – see Pic03. Indeed, there was a $300,000 ‘Cycleways’ allocation in Council’s 2025/2026 Budget for ‘Minmi and Fletcher shared path connections (Design)’. While this item is also listed in the 2026/2027 Budget (on Page 150) and now tagged as ‘Delivery’ Stage, there is no further funding allocation; importantly, it is still listed as one of the ‘Major Projects ≥$1m’ in the Figure on Page 93 (see Pic03). Continued progress on planning and delivery of these community connections is central to the success of the RVRT (both locally and regionally), as well as to the broader Composite S2S/RVRT Shared Pathway. Likewise, completion of the planned Woodford Street (Minmi) shared pathway RVRT access needs to be prioritised (https://newcastle.nsw.gov.au/about-us/news-and-updates/projects-and-works/roads-bridges/woodford-street,-minmi-road-infrastructure-improvements).  Pic03: Repeat of Slide 12 from Updated Presentation about Composite S2S/RVRT Shared Pathway (March 2026) – “Recent RVRT-related activities by Local Councils” (https://www.richmondvalerailtrail.org.au/news/updated-presentation-about-composite-s2srvrt-shared-pathway-hunter-valley-nsw-march-2026): This image illustrates Council’s planned course of action during 2026 to ensure that the Current 5-year RVRT-related Newcastle Approval (DA 2020/00641, December 2021) does not lapse [as conveyed to us by Council Officers in October 2025]. 4. Activating the Existing RVRT DA Approval (DA 2020/00641). As illustrated in Pic04, only 13km of the RVRT within Newcastle LGA was included in the December 2021 major DA Approval, subject to 100 comprehensive Conditions of Consent. So, realistically, and with construction access/complexity and community connection firmly in mind, the choice of RVRT initial starting location is probably between Minmi (as highlighted above) and Shortland (along the King’s Trail leading to Ironbark Creek). The Shortland connection will also form part of a future major ‘active transport’ RVRT link to Tarro/Beresfield via Hexham Junction, including connections to on-road cycleways that are part of the Black Hill to Raymond Terrace M1 Extension.  Pic04: “Rail Trail & Wetlands Zone” within the Proposed Composite 120km Shiraz to Shore (S2S/RVRT) Shared Pathway – Highlighting (purple) the RVRT segments within Newcastle LGA that were included in the Regional Planning Panel’s 5-year Approval [DA 2020/00641, PPSHCC-55, December 2021; totalling 13km]. 5. Funding for Transformative Cross-regional Projects. It is also becoming increasingly obvious that local Councils find it very difficult to accumulate, attract or allocate funding for major community-enhancing cross-regional recreational, active transport and/or tourism-oriented projects like the RVRT or the broader Composite S2S/RVRT Shared Pathway. Essentially, we need the State Government to make major funding contributions, with proportionate assistance from Federal sources. To this end, we would like to encourage everyone to support and engage with agencies such as Local Business and Community Groups, and Hunter Joint Organisation of Councils (Hunter JO), both in their routine advocacy work and in their targeted campaigns – see Pic05. For example, a “Hunter MP Roundtable” is planned for June 2026 – so, ‘now’ would be a particularly good time to converse with your local ‘elected representatives’ (at all levels) about your views, preferences and priorities for the Hunter Region’s medium- to long-term future – including about community infrastructure projects like the RVRT and Composite S2S/RVRT.  Pic05: Start of NSW Election (March 2027) Advocacy Campaign from Hunter Joint Organisation of Councils (Hunter JO) – Extracts from recent News Item about Priorities and Meeting Outcomes (April 14th 2026). Link: https://hunterjo.nsw.gov.au/nsw-election-advocacy-kicks-off/. 6. Improved S2S/RVRT Co-ordination. We also need to advocate (again) for an active regional approach to S2S/RVRT co-ordination (to ensure the Composite Trail is integrated, valued and completed), including a concerted effort to attract funding for the historic Premier Sugarloaf Range RVRT section – given its uniqueness, overall attractiveness and tourist-drawing potential (e.g., three brick-lined railway tunnels; embankments and cuttings; access to conservation areas; and heritage and educational value). Thanks to all of our RVRT and S2S supporters. Constructive Comments and Feedback Welcome. RVRT Supporters’ Group (RVRT Inc.) Contact Information:
WEBSITE: https://richmondvalerailtrail.org.au/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/richmondrailtrail/ ABN: 38 561 671 292 Registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
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