Rail trail dreams derailed by costs, constraints

By Ryan Bellingham

Apr 22, 2025

Development of the Kerang to Koondrook Rail Trail project has been cancelled. Photo by Supplied

Gannawarra Shire Council has announced the development of the Kerang to Koondrook Rail Trail has been cancelled.

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Councillors made the difficult decision to cease further planning for the trail at a council meeting in April, citing project constraints and projected costs.

Gannawarra Shire Mayor Garner Smith said the council had spent years working with the community on the project’s viability, which was expected to benefit both residents and tourists.

“Unfortunately, extensive investigation, design, costing, environmental assessments, and safety evaluations ... identified critical barriers,” he said.

Hurdles included significant environmental impacts, safety concerns regarding route alignment, and a prohibitive project cost estimation of over $20 million.

Proposed routes passed through protected environments and areas subject to flooding, and the project’s estimated cost was expected to impact other important projects.

The 22km trail would have used sections of a former tramway, connecting Kerang Station to the centre of Koondrook.

“My fellow councillors and I thank the groups involved in initially developing the proposed Kerang-Koondrook Rail Trail and look forward to building on the relationships made,” Cr Smith said.