The Hinterland Post checked out the rail line at Eltham with Member for Lismore, Thomas George

The Northern Rivers Rail Trail is set to become a reality for our region, evoking an emotional reaction from the local community. We hit the trail to hear from the locals who are for and against.

The grand plans for the Northern Rivers Rail Trail is to have a 132km walking and cycling track from Casino to Murwillimbah, via Byron Bay.

The federal and state government have just committed $6.5 million each to help fund the first stage of the rail trail, which includes transformation of the 24km of rail corridor from Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek, near Mullumbimby.

The rail trail is expected to revitalise small communities along the route and boost the local tourism industry by encouraging visitors to stay longer and inject money into our local economy.

Figures for a completed rail trail show 88,000 visitors will use the trail each year and spend around $18 million in the region, providing 60 direct jobs and 300 indirect jobs.

The Northern Rivers Rail Trail Group started back in 2013 when locals, including Marie Lawton, came up with the idea and got the ball rolling.

“I’ve ridden rail trails in Victoria and New Zealand and realised how beneficial they were for the small communities they wind through,” Marie said.

Marie also argues that, in addition to all of the tourism and the obvious health benefits for the locals using the trail, it will also help to keep the rail corridor available for public use.

“We run the risk of losing the rail corridor if it’s not used,” Marie said. 

“We’ve run markets, given talks to community groups, written newsletters and media pieces, run petitions, held events and fundraisers which have all helped to get the project off the ground,” she said. 

From all of this profile raising, the funding eventually followed. In addition to the $13 million being tipped in from state and federal governments, $75 thousand was also raised from a crowd funding campaign to put towards a business case for the Casino to Eltham section of the trail.

Member for Lismore, Thomas George, said the project has been a result of a lot of hard work to get it where it is today.

“Originally the Northern Rivers Rail Trail Group were advocating for the whole line, from Casino through to Murwillumbah, to be developed,” he said.

“However, not all shire councils could agree on the plan. There was funding promised to look at it but because everyone along the line didn’t agree, it fell through.

“Then Tweed Shire Council, together with Northern Rivers Rail Trail group and the community, kept pushing for the Tweed Shire to be used as a pilot program.

“This hasn’t been driven by members of parliament, the rail trail has been driven by the community and Tweed Shire Council.

“As a result, their case has been recognised by the state and federal government and funding has been allocated to realise their plans,” Thomas said.

While the Northern Rivers Railway Action Group don’t have an issue with constructing the rail trail within the railway corridor, they have big issues with removing the railway tracks and replacing them with the trail.

Representative of the Group, Bill Fenelon said it’s possible to restore the train services one day, it just requires politicians with a bit of vision and thought for the future.

“The track, in its current condition, can already support lightweight rail vehicles,” Bill said.

“We’re advocating reopening the entire existing 132kms which will link all of these hinterland and coastal towns and villages.

“The remaining 32km to Tweed Heads should be completed and extended to Gold Coast Airport,” Bill said.

Bill also said suggestions that the rail trail will help protect the railway corridor were simply false.

“Section 99a of the Transport Administration Act has worked well to protect disused railway corridors all over the NSW.

“Under Rail Safe regulations, the railway corridor is required to be a minimum of 31 metres but at times it’s required to be over 40 metres around Byron and Mullumbimby where there are multiple tracks.

“With the train tracks being around 1.5 metres and the trail being around 3 metres, there’s ample room for the bike path to run alongside the track and section 99a would remain in force, protecting the corridor against any sell off.

“If Section 99a protection is removed so the trail can be built over the railway, developers could end up getting hold of the land, meaning the railway will never be restored," Bill said. 

Marie Lawton said the Rail Trail Group doesn’t think it would be possible for the trail to run beside the tracks.

“However it’s worthwhile getting the engineers tendering for the project to put the idea to rest one way or another,” she said.

“It might be possible from Byron to Mullumbimby but not from Byron to Bangalow. Through the Burringbar Range, there are tunnels, culverts, steep drop offs and bridges.

“We have to ask ourselves why we’d do that when it would be a lot cheaper and safer to construct the trail along the tracks. 

“If we thought there was a train coming back in the not-too-distant future, we wouldn’t be campaigning for a rail trail.

“It just wouldn’t be reasonable for any government to spend that much money on a train, for a low-population area, that not many people would use," Marie said. 

Thomas George said, “The government has made a decision there will be no train back on that track and I doubt whether any government would put a train back on there.”

“The government is funding a $2 million study for the light rail to come from Gold Coast down into Tweed Heads. If that proves successful, there’s nothing stopping the government and the community considering an extension of the light rail, which is common sense.

“However, it will go down the coast where the population is and that’s an opportunity that may happen in years to come,” Thomas said.

Local and state governments plough ahead with renewable energy while the federal government seeks to block their efforts.

In another exciting development for renewable energy in Australia, the country’s largest floating solar farm was launched this week at East Lismore’s Sewage Treatment Plant.

The Lismore Community Solar initiative is a result of a partnership between Lismore City Council and Farming the Sun, which works with communities to fund renewable energy projects that power council facilities.

Under a financial model, the first of its kind in Australia, the project was funded by companies made up of 20 local investors with the funds loaned to council. It’s expected investors will be paid back in the next 12 years. 

“It has already generated interest both nationally and internationally as a model for government and community cooperation, with investors receiving a return better than that of a bank,” said Lismore Council’s Environmental Strategies Officer, Sharyn Hunnisett. 

As Lismore Council’s highest electricity consuming site, the sewage plant accounts for more than a quarter of the Council’s total electricity consumption. The 280 solar panels on the 100kW floating solar farm will generate 12 per cent of the treatment plant’s energy needs, saving the council nearly $25,000 each year. 

The council will expand the solar farm over time to power the treatment plant with 100 per cent solar energy. Lismore Council’s Renewable Energy Master Plan aims to generate all of its electricity from renewable sources by 2023.

“The project has not been without its challenges to establish and get operational, but now that we have done the hard work we have a model others can emulate,” Sharyn said.  

The project was also made possible with a grant from the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage as well as donations from private philanthropists. 

Greens candidate for Page, Daniel Reid, said the solar farm project was born from Lismore's progressive and proactive community spirit which is reflected on Lismore Council. 

“The Lismore community has made it very clear that it cares about the environment and the future and that it will tackle the big issues, including climate change and the need to be 100 per cent renewable as quickly as possible. 

“Lismore is not a community that will sit back and wait for big government to solve the big problems,” Daniel said. 

The large number of renewable energy projects being undertaken at a local and state level sits in stark contrast to the federal government, which has not only sat on its hands in terms of renewable energy policy leadership but also actively supports the fossil fuel industry. 

When the world’s largest lithium-ion battery was switched on in South Australia late last year, revolutionising the way electricity is produced and stored, the state’s premier Jay Weatherill took a massive dig at the federal government. 

“While others are just talking, we are delivering our energy plan, making South Australia more self-sufficient, and providing back up power and more affordable energy for South Australians this summer,” Jay said. 

The Turnbull government’s latest proposed national energy guarantee (Neg) aims to protect coal generators from competition from renewables and get rid of the “spot” market which is a supply and demand driven market where prices fluctuate depending on the purchaser’s requirements. 

As reported in the Guardian, analysis by Carbon and Energy Markets for the Australian Conservation Foundation found the national energy guarantee is likely to be a favourable regime for the incumbent generators and unfriendly to renewables. 

“The absence of an emission price, makes it harder for buyers and sellers to find each other and to find prices that they are willing to trade at. 

“It can be no surprise that there is no evidence in Australia or internationally of an approach similar to the Neg having ever been implemented or even proposed,” the Australian Conservation Foundation said. 

The scheme requires agreement from state governments before it can be legislated and the detail of the scheme is to be considered in April. 

So why would a liberal government, who supposedly support a free market, implement a policy that seeks to pick winners? Let’s follow the money. 

“The current federal coalition government policy is that coal and coal fired power should be in the clean energy mix,” Daniel Reid said. 

“There is a very close relationship between the major parties and the fossil fuel industry and its lobbyists, particularly the Minerals Council. 

“The renewable energy sector has been frustrated for many years by the preferential treatment that the fossil fuel industry receives despite the overwhelming evidence of the rapid advancement of renewable technology and the economic success of the renewable energy sector across the globe.

“The problem is the current Liberal-National Coalition are backing the wrong players and refusing access to even a fraction of the subsidies available to the fossil fuel sector. 

“The evidence is that we need to phase out coal fired power as quickly as we can, but the current federal government continues to invest in coal, is on its knees begging the fossil fuel industry to continue to generate coal fired power, and has absurdly mooted building its own coal fired power station. 

“With the right government support and leadership the renewable industry is ready, including non-centralised community owned initiatives, but current government policies stand in the way of our clean energy future. 

“Australia needs a strategic, responsible and supported end to coal fired power. Any member of parliament not advocating for this is ignoring the evidence of what is needed, is missing the economic initiative and is playing dangerously with our future,” Daniel said.

*The author lives off grid in the Byron hinterland and is free from both a conflict of interest in writing this piece and rising energy prices.

The Northern Rivers is known for their markets and world-class produce.

Most residents are fiercely loyal to their local farmers and will find the majority of their weekly food shop from their markets and family butchers.

They shun the likes of Coles and Woolies due to expensive prices, stupid amounts of plastic packaging and tasteless fruit and vegetables that go bad within days. A great Choice article gives you the low down on what you’re actually eating when you buy from these chains.

Health regulations prevent you from taking pets to any of these markets which is really unfortunate. They are the perfect place to take your fury friend on a sunny day.

Here's our pick of the top five markets in the region. 

Bangalow Farmers Market

The market is held in the Bangalow Hotel car park at 1 Byron Street Bangalow every Saturday from 8 – 11am. You can tie your fury friend up at the entrance and whip in and grab your goodies.

The Bangalow Farmers Market is fantastic for local produce.  If you’re visiting and plan to cook, definitely head here. The vegetables are amazing, you will see a true rainbow of different goodies and there are numerous meat stalls with a variety of fresh and cured meats.

There are usually around 20 stalls so it’s not huge but the quality is fantastic. 

Unfortunately there is no coffee stall but after the markets you can head onto Bangalow’s main drag to grab one. We recommend Sparrow Coffee at 32-24 Byron Street. Say hello to Alice, she’s awesome.

Our top picks

French bread stall – they are there without fail, the bread is top notch and the ladies are lovely.

Nimbin Valley Dairy – they are not always there but I always grab a few bits of cheese if they are. The washed rind and marinated goats cheese are both delightful.  

Boomerang Creek Farm - Will runs a bio-dynamic farm and their produce, especially the garlic, is beautiful. Boomerang Creek basically starts at Nightcap Ridge so we know the water they’re using is the best in the world.

Apples - they can sit on the bench for weeks and still taste as fresh as the day they were picked. Apples aren’t really grown around the area so they come from a farm out at Stanthorpe.

Bangalow Market

The Bangalow Market is held on the fourth Sunday of the month from 9am – 3pm inside the Bangalow Showground. Get in early to beat the long lines of flash cars winding through Bangalow to get a park at the Showgrounds.

There is a great range of goods on offer with a definite artsy feel. You can find clothing, plants, art, records as well as hot food and the mandatory coffee.

The Showground is a lovely location for markets, especially in good weather. You wander under the huge trees and you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time.

Lismore Car Boot Market

The Lismore Car Boot Market is held in the carpark under Lismore Square on the first and third Sunday of each month from 7:30am – 2pm.

On first inspection it looks a bit daggy but, like Lismore, there’s so much to love! It’s a huge market with a wide range of different items on offer and a great community vibe. There are four or five decent coffee stalls there but I recommend getting there early to beat the lines before you start wandering around.

You can find an abundance of fruit and vegetables, hot food, plants, bric-a-brac, antiques, records and books, linen tea towels, wool and crocheted blankets. Lismore has a rich musical history and you get a sense of it there with the fabulous buskers and performers.

Our top picks

Cupcake stall - walk in the main entrance on the corner or Uralba and Brewster Street and she is on the right. They are freshly baked and the flavours are always changing. She is such a delight as well.

Knitwear - there are many stalls with nice older ladies showing their knitted items such as beanies, jumpers, blankets and baby clothes. For the quality and time items would take to produce, it’s all reasonably priced.

Handmade furniture – we have purchased a few sets of Aidrondack chairs from OzMark Creations. They are made out of recycled fence posts so they will stand the test of time and the quality is excellent. Mark and Sue are lovely

Plants – I never leave the car boot sale without purchasing a few plants. My favourite stall is Miss Tree. Stephanie lives locally, in Rosebank and she always gives good advice.

The Channon Craft Market

Held at the Coronation Oval in The Channon on the second Sunday of the month from 9am – 3pm.  

It’s known as the longest running market in the Northern Rivers. You’re in true hippie territory here and it’s awesome. The whole community comes out for the Channon Market and it has a bit more of a crafty, chilled vibe.

It has a great range of fruit and veg stalls, fruit trees and plants, hot food, clothing, baskets, and arts and crafts. 

It’s held around the outside of Coronation Oval and they will often have musical acts in the middle where kids run around and dance and play.

I haven’t been there at the end of the market but apparently there’s a drumming circle in the middle and everyone joins in and dances.

I’d recommend getting there early and getting a park as the traffic can get a bit hectic (for country standards!) around lunchtime. Have a gold coin ready for entrance to the carpark.

Our top picks

Tridosha – they’re a small family business from Bangalow who make salt, pepper and spice blends. You buy the shaker, which is a really nice gift, and you can buy packet refills. The Mediterano blend goes with just about anything.

Shopping baskets – the hand-woven baskets are a must-have for market shopping!

Waffles – their waffles with banana and ice cream are pretty awesome.

Mullum Farmers Market

Held every Friday morning from 7 – 11am at the Mullumbimby Showground located at 51 Main Arm Road, Mullumbimby.

The Mullumbimby community is known for their clean, green way of life and the market is a perfect example of this.

You will find all of your fruit and vegetables as well as homemade jams, local meats, baked goodies and a wide range of other items. You wander under the massive fig trees and there’s always really good live music and a great community vibe.

Our top picks

Alive Foods – if you’re into fermented foods, you will love their traditional Sauerkraut and Kim-Chi.

Bangalow Potatoes – their Dutch Cream potatoes are absolutely delicious and perfect for your potato salad and great for frying. They’re also at Bangalow Farmers Market.