Donaldson Conservation Trust
We thank the Donaldson Conservation Trust for their support of the Richmond Vale Rail Trail concept and their support of environmental research in the area.
In 2007, as part of approvals for the Abel Underground Coal Mine and its commitment to the Hunter community, Donaldson Coal allocated $1 million over 10 years to an independent Trust promoting environmental conservation, education and research, and associated environmental management activities within the area covered by its mining leases (approx. 100 square kilometres, to the south of John Renshaw Drive and west of the M1 Pacific Motorway) – which subsequently included most of the Sugarloaf and Stockrington State Conservation Areas (SCAs) and about 14km of the proposed RVRT.
Members of the Donaldson Conservation Trust (DCT) had the foresight to progressively allocate approx. $750k of the available funds to RVRT and related projects. This included: a $175k contribution to the City of Newcastle, as co-ordinating Council for the initial design and environmental assessment components of the RVRT project (http://newcastle.nsw.gov.au/Council/News/Projects-Works/Richmond-Vale-Rail-Trail ); $257k to the National Parks and Wildlife Service to facilitate future development of a Midtrail Precinct, from which to access and explore both the RVRT and Stockrington SCA; and approx. two-thirds of the $500k in research funds awarded to the Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment at the University of Newcastle. The latter contributed to a host of productive outcomes, including: studies examining RVRT flora, river catchment contamination, and ecotourism potential; promotional materials; and the highly successful “Towards the Richmond Vale Rail Trail” book and associated “Active Transport conference" (September 2017).
The six Donaldson Conservation Trustees were: Mr. Tony Sutherland (Chairman and Donaldson appointee); Mr. Phil Brown (Donaldson appointee); Mr. Colin East and Mr. Terry Lewin (Community appointees); Prof. Michael Mahony (Independent appointee); and Dr. Mark Burns (Environmental appointee).
In 2007, as part of approvals for the Abel Underground Coal Mine and its commitment to the Hunter community, Donaldson Coal allocated $1 million over 10 years to an independent Trust promoting environmental conservation, education and research, and associated environmental management activities within the area covered by its mining leases (approx. 100 square kilometres, to the south of John Renshaw Drive and west of the M1 Pacific Motorway) – which subsequently included most of the Sugarloaf and Stockrington State Conservation Areas (SCAs) and about 14km of the proposed RVRT.
Members of the Donaldson Conservation Trust (DCT) had the foresight to progressively allocate approx. $750k of the available funds to RVRT and related projects. This included: a $175k contribution to the City of Newcastle, as co-ordinating Council for the initial design and environmental assessment components of the RVRT project (http://newcastle.nsw.gov.au/Council/News/Projects-Works/Richmond-Vale-Rail-Trail ); $257k to the National Parks and Wildlife Service to facilitate future development of a Midtrail Precinct, from which to access and explore both the RVRT and Stockrington SCA; and approx. two-thirds of the $500k in research funds awarded to the Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment at the University of Newcastle. The latter contributed to a host of productive outcomes, including: studies examining RVRT flora, river catchment contamination, and ecotourism potential; promotional materials; and the highly successful “Towards the Richmond Vale Rail Trail” book and associated “Active Transport conference" (September 2017).
The six Donaldson Conservation Trustees were: Mr. Tony Sutherland (Chairman and Donaldson appointee); Mr. Phil Brown (Donaldson appointee); Mr. Colin East and Mr. Terry Lewin (Community appointees); Prof. Michael Mahony (Independent appointee); and Dr. Mark Burns (Environmental appointee).
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
The Richmond Vale Rail Trail has been a long-term vision of National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) for many years. The Aboriginal and European artefacts scattered along the corridor would make the cycle ride an interesting and education experience in addition to possessing important biodiversity values.
NPWS has contributed to the feasibility studies, environmental assessments and concept designs for the project and will continue to support the project into the future. Since inception, NPWS has strongly supported the trails’ construction within the national parks system, traversing four national parks (Hunter Wetland National Park, Pambalong Nature Reserve, Stockrington State Conservation Area and Werakata State Conservation Area) and provides access to Blue Gum Hills Regional Park at the Minmi Spur.
NPWS has contributed to the feasibility studies, environmental assessments and concept designs for the project and will continue to support the project into the future. Since inception, NPWS has strongly supported the trails’ construction within the national parks system, traversing four national parks (Hunter Wetland National Park, Pambalong Nature Reserve, Stockrington State Conservation Area and Werakata State Conservation Area) and provides access to Blue Gum Hills Regional Park at the Minmi Spur.
National Parks and Wildlife Service – Connecting to the Community to the Wild World of the Hunter Valley
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Hunter Wetland National Park A wildlife sanctuary and attraction for birdwatchers, playing host to native and migratory bird species. Family-friendly destination in the Hunter Valley, close to Newcastle where you can immerse yourself in the diverse ecosystem or explore WWII relics or early settler artefacts. |
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Pambalong Nature Reserve Nestled in between Hexham Swamp and Mount Sugarloaf is Pambalong Nature Reserve that was home to the Aboriginal Pambalong people. Its cultural significance was highlighted in 1996 by possessing the highest artefact density in the Hunter Valley during a survey in nearby Woods Gully. |
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Stockrington State Conservation Area
This area is home to three long brick tunnels along the trail and a trestle bridge in the west of the area. For many years, NPWS has been working with Coal and Allied to transfer the Stockrington lands to the state government to ensure lands are available to the public into perpetuity. This hard work and collaboration has paid off with the recent announcement of the transfer of land to the NSW Government for conservation purposes.
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Werakata State Conservation Area The Richmond Vale Conservation Corridor passes through the easternmost part of Werakata State Conservation Area as it approaches Kurri Kurri at Stanford Merthyr, and is home to 236 species of native vertebrate fauna. |
Blue Gum Hills Regional Park Immediately south of the township of Minmi is Blue Gum Hills Regional Park. Accessible from the Minmi or Fletcher spurs of the trail, the park was once an underground mine that raised the local population to 6000. After its closure however, this dropped to only 600 at the turn of the century. Now an attraction to families, historical enthusiasts, bird-watchers and locals, the park possesses a number of heritage items retained from the mining era and activities for the whole family. |
