Tourism

I'd be realy intersted to talk with the relevant officer with your council about the process of getting the rail trail up and running. My name is Suzie Coulston - I am the Economic Development Officer with Kyogle Council in northern New South Wales and we are looking at the pro's and con's of this in our area.

Hi my name is Alan Willock and I am a member of BARBUG cycling group. I also work for the Wollondilly Shire Council in the Visitor Information Centre. I am often asked by locals and tourists alike for new places to ride bikes (both mountain and road bikes).

The thing about cycling is it doesn't take long to get fairly fit in a short time and that 6 km ride in the park soon becomes nothing more than a warm up.

I have been cycling for just over 1 year now and I am now looking to go in my second Gong Ride (90 km). So when I think bicycle paths, I like to think of the paths enjoyed by the South Coast or the M7 Cycleway etc.

These cycleways not only provide safe access to town facilities such as schools and sporting facilities, they also provide a tourist attraction for cyclists from other areas as well as a safe venue for fund raising cycling events.

Finally the ultimate benefit is cleaner air and lower medical costs to the community (both for the exercise benefits and the clean air) as well as fuel savings.

The Wingecarribee villages along the Loop Line are not served by weekend public transport and the main road is narrow, mostly 100km an hour and extremely dangerous for bicycle riders.

It should be a priority, not a long term plan for the Loop Line tourist bike track to be built to allow for safe passage of bike riders and pedestrians and the youth of the northern villages between villages and through to the main townships.

There would also be economic benefits to the Northern Villages through the creation of this trail as there are a number of points of interest along the trail which have to date not been recognisted.