On any given weekend in the Pioneer Valley, you will find families on bikes, friends out for a morning walk and horse riders enjoying a peaceful stretch of countryside that once carried trains instead of trail users. That transformation has been driven almost entirely by volunteers.
This month, Pioneer Valley Rail Trail Inc is our Community Gift recipient, receiving a $500 donation to help continue their work building and maintaining the popular local trail.
Secretary of the group, Vicky Bowden, said the idea for the project grew from seeing what other regions had achieved.
“Our group formally started in 2022. The project was inspired by other facilities that have been developed in Queensland and interstate and recognising a growing trend for people to choose leisure tourism for their holidays, in particular rail trails.
“Since commencement we have developed an 8.5 kilometre stretch of trail to a standard that can be easily used by cyclists, runners, walkers and horse riders. This has included the building of a bridge, a creek crossing, and significant surface improvements to make the trail safe and easy to use.”
What visitors see today is the result of hundreds of volunteer hours behind the scenes.
“We have around 20 active volunteers in our group and many other sponsors and supporters. We also have over 4,000 Facebook followers.”
While the current section of trail is already well used, the group is thinking far beyond what exists now.
“The long-term goal is to develop a trail that spans from Mackay Harbour to the base of the Eungella Range. This will include unused rail corridor and quiet back roads. This will be a first for our region, with an eventual span of around 80 kilometres.”
Keeping the trail in good condition is an ongoing job that never really stops but the effort is clearly paying off, with locals embracing the new space.
“The community has been supportive. We have local horse riding, running and cycling groups all using the trail. We have not yet quantified the benefits, but long term we envisage that the trail will draw more tourists to the area, boosting the local economy as a result.
“It is proving to be a great extension to the Finch Hatton mountain bike users as it offers them a different style of riding from Finch Hatton to Mirani via the trail and country roads.”
The project has already gained recognition well beyond the valley with Bicycle Queensland awarding the trail a community award for the hard work the committee had contributed to the promotion of the trail.
Like many community projects, the biggest challenges for Pioneer Valley Rail Trail Inc aren’t enthusiasm – it’s resources, particularly attracting volunteers and securing funding. The group thanks its many supporters, including the Michelle Landry Volunteers Fund, BHP, Mackay Regional Council, Capricornia Energy, Stanmore Energy, the Department of Transport and Main Roads, BMA, Glencore via PCL, and the Glen Kelly Community Fund. They also acknowledge Mackay Sugar for providing the trail license and guidance, along with their gate sponsors: Calen Trail and Horse Sports Club, Breakaway Horse Riders, NQ Car and Truck, and ATHRA.
While these contributions have helped bring the trail to life, achieving the group’s long-term goals will require even more financial support and additional hands-on deck.
“Projects like ours help valley communities thrive. Our aim is to work with local communities to showcase what we have, encourage everyone to enjoy the area in a safe, family-friendly and healthy environment, and support the growth of local economies.”
| The group is always keen to welcome more people to the project. Visit their Facebook page, Friends of the Pioneer Valley Rail Trail, or email: admin@pvrailtrail.com |
