Apreliminary step in the creation of a walking and cycling trail on the former rail line between Mount Gambier and Millicent has been taken by Wattle Range Council.
It has asked its staff to prepare a report on the possibility of council assuming care and control from the State Government of the 15km section of line between Millicent and Tantanoola.
The staff report is to be brought to the March council meeting for consideration.
The line has not carried any freight traffic for over 30 years.
Councillor Moira Neagle has been a long-term advocate of a walking and cycling trail for the closed line and moved the successful motion to probe the matter at the January monthly meeting.
According to Cr Neagle, the trail could eventually extend from Tantanoola to Mount Gambier and complement others in the region.
Cr Neagle told the meeting that she had been motivated to act after a portion of rail land adjoining the Millicent parklands had been sold by the State Government to a fuel company for a service station.
“We should have bought it,” Cr Neagle said.
During debate on her motion, Mayor Des Noll queried whether Wattle Range Council had the capacity to maintain the 15km of rail corridor.
Similar sentiments were expressed by engineering services director Peter Halton who said additional resources for maintenance such as mowing would be required by the council.
Mr Halton said maintenance of the line was currently the responsibility of the State Government.
“Very little maintenance is done until we scream at them,” Mr Halton said.
He pointed out the cost to build the 20km cycling and walking trail along the closed Penola/Coonawarra rail line in 2022 was $2.1m and so a Millicent/ Tantanoola link would be less.
Mr Halton also said there were also two spur lines leading to the former Cellulose mill at Snuggery.
Deputy Mayor Cr Peter Dunnicliff said he was also concerned about the upkeep costs but Cr David Walshaw said the cycling/walking trail was worthy of further consideration.
“This could be an opportunity lost,” Cr Walshaw said.
“We need a report on the costs.”
Cr Dale Price also said he wanted further information on the proposal while Cr Deb Agnew said the creation of walking and cycling trails on closed rail lines had proven successful elsewhere.
“Build it and they will come,” Cr Agnew said.
Chief executive Ben Gower detailed council’s investigations a few years ago into the possible use of the land surrounding the Millicent railway station for other purposes such as housing.
Mr Gower said this included an audit at a cost of $80,000 to council which had highlighted various contamination issues.
He expressed concern about the long-term maintenance costs if council took control of the 15km of line between Millicent and Tantanoola.
Mayor Noll suggested to Cr Neagle the wording of her original notice-of-motion be slightly amended.
This suggestion was rejected by an emotional Cr Neagle.
A 10-minute adjournment was made and a re-worded motion to include the requirement for a staff report was subsequently passed.
