The historic Yass Railway Bridge is set to be part of the project’s path. Photo: Supplied.
A Capital Country council is looking to finalise the design plans for a more than four-kilometre planned rail trail.
Yass Valley Council (YVC) has been developing the Yass Rail Trail as a planned designated shared zone for pedestrians and bicycles.
It will utilise the disused Yass Tramway corridor and, in its current form, the pathway would stretch between Yass Junction and the township.
The proposed route is expected to end at the Yass Railway Museum (near the town centre), and also take in the old steel bridge.
In the latest stage of the project, the council is seeking the public’s feedback on what they would like to see from the design.
According to consultation drawings, released this month, its route would continue through Yass for 4.7 km.
“When constructed, the rail trail will run from Yass Junction railway station through woodland down to Yass Town, crossing the Yass River before running the length of Dutton Street in Yass and ending at the Yass Railway Museum,” the council’s consultation page says.
The proposed route includes the old steel bridge, which was built across the Yass River in the early 1890s.
Existing pedestrian and vehicle access for Yass Public School is also expected to remain.
Other elements of the proposed works include kerb replacements, a 1.4-metre-high fence and some vegetation clearing.
The drawings also flag possible further development along the route, such as an engine shed.
Planning for the project has been ongoing for several years, with YVC handed a grant of $698,000 for the design in late 2024.
An information sheet released as part of the consultation process notes that the designs should be finalised in the coming months.
“The design process will be finalised by late June 2026 for construction funding application,” it says.
“Further information will be provided as the application progresses.”
Yass Council’s website also notes that the rail trail project is undergoing final community and stakeholder consultation on its design.
Finalising funding and construction would form the third (and final) stage of the project.
It’s hoped the Yass Rail Trail, once completed, will attract local and tourist visitors.
A 2023 strategic assessment of the project predicted it could host about 3470 users a year (accounting for both locals and ‘’day-trippers’’).
“A rail trail on the disused rail corridor between Yass Junction Station and Yass Railway Museum is technically feasible,” the document states.
“The issues raised can be overcome with good design and the corridor remains in public ownership.”
The document also called for heritage sites near the proposed route (such as the Railway Museum and Tramway Bridge) to be features of the project, which was given an estimated $11 million price tag.
“Because of this, their heritage value should be promoted to users of the trail, whilst ensuring that increased usage does not result in any compromise of heritage values,” the document says.
Members of the public can have their say on the proposal until 5 pm on 24 April.
An online survey and the detailed designs are available on the council’s Your Voice Counts platform.
