Next steps for Mary to Bay Rail Trail

Fraser Coast Regional Council has endorsed a community-led strategy that sets out the next steps to improve and connect the Mary to Bay Rail Trail in stages.

At its meeting this week (Wednesday 24 September), Council also resolved to wind up the Mary to Bay Rail Trail Advisory Committee and instead set up a new Stakeholder Reference Group to review progress and help identify and prioritise works for Council’s consideration.

The change reflects the project moving from planning to on-ground delivery and provides a simpler, more flexible way to involve stakeholders.

Cr Zane O’Keefe said the new strategy will guide steady, practical progress towards a continuous route between Urangan and the Maryborough CBD.

“The Mary to Bay Rail Trail is a popular recreational route for both residents and visitors, giving people of all ages the chance to walk or wheel through our urban streetscapes and rural landscapes,” he said.

“This strategy sets the order of works so we can line up funding and deliver early improvements like new trailheads and safer creek and road crossings, while we keep working with State agencies on the bigger pieces.”

Short-term priorities include:

• Opening the section between Maryborough–Hervey Bay Road and Piggford Lane, with a formal trailhead and parking at Piggford Lane.
• Establishing a connection from Quarry Road towards Aldershot and Saltwater Creek, including a suitable creek crossing.
• Delivering a southern diversion around the Colton mining lease to keep the route continuous.
• Providing a safe interim link between Walker Street and the Maryborough CBD using the existing road network, while long-term use of the rail corridor is explored with Queensland Rail.

Longer-term actions include:

• Permanent bridge crossings at Stockyard Creek and Black Swamp Creek so the trail can remain open during wet weather.
• Consistent trailheads at key access points including Maryborough CBD, Walker Street, Churchill Mines Road, Walligan, Takura and Piggford Lane.

Council will continue to work with the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Rail, community groups like the Fraser Coast Bicycle Users Group, and landholders to deliver projects in stages and seek external funding. The community will be informed as works progress.

Parts of the trail are already open and well used. The sealed urban section runs from Urangan Pier to Nikenbah, with a rural section from Piggford Lane through Takura towards Colton. Horse riding is available on the rural section, with access from the Churchill Mine Road trailhead.

The Mary to Bay Rail Trail follows the former rail line that once transported coal and agricultural products from the Wide Bay Burnett region to the Urangan Pier. When complete, the full trail will span about 48 kilometres.

More information is available here.