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.
An independent organisation, Donaldson Conservation Trust (DCT) was specified as part of the approval for the Abel Underground Coal Mine in 2007, which is now owned by Yancoal Australia. The Trust administered a $1 million dollar fund environmental conservation, education and research projects, and associated environmental management activities within the Trust’s area, which comprised approximately 14km of the proposed 32km RVRT.
For the last few years, the DCT’s activities have been consolidated around themes related to the proposed RVRT, including:
An independent organisation, Donaldson Conservation Trust (DCT) was specified as part of the approval for the Abel Underground Coal Mine in 2007, which is now owned by Yancoal Australia. The Trust administered a $1 million dollar fund environmental conservation, education and research projects, and associated environmental management activities within the Trust’s area, which comprised approximately 14km of the proposed 32km RVRT.
For the last few years, the DCT’s activities have been consolidated around themes related to the proposed RVRT, including:
- substantial financial support to assist with the preparation of various RVRT environmental assessments and concept design work (in conjunction with local Councils and National Parks and Wildlife Services);
- significant funding to the Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment (TFI) for a range of related projects and activities, including preparation of the “Towards the Richmond Vale Rail Trail” book;
- and the associated successful “Active Transport” conference and book launch held in September 2017.
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. |
