The future of the Monaro Rail Trail project was thrown into doubt with a rescission motion over a February 2026 council decision. Photo: Cooma Monaro Railway Inc.
A rescission motion taking aim at a plan to replace an existing railway in a major infrastructure project has failed to overturn the planned approach.
At its February meeting, Snowy Monaro Regional Council (SMRC) voted to progress with a plan for part of the disused rail corridor, which, at its full extent, runs more than 200 kilometres to Queanbeyan.
Much of the discussion focused on how the council should utilise a short section of the track (set to be about five kilometres long) near Bombala, with councillors ultimately voting to move ahead with existing plans for an on-formation rail trail (meaning it would be built where the disused tracks are).
Meeting papers point to several community groups calling for a shared-use corridor – where the rail trail would be built alongside the existing railway so the latter could be used in the future.
But its future was thrown into doubt when councillors John Rooney, Luke Williamson and Andrew Thaler lodged a rescission motion at the March meeting.
While the three councillors had called on SMRC to reconsider its position, councillor Reuben Rose and Cr Rooney failed to have the motion deferred.
It meant discussion on the topic went ahead.
Cr Rooney said he was hoping to fix what he described as a “miscarriage of justice” in the earlier decision.
He said community groups had been left with the impression that SMRC supported the shared-use corridor option, which he said would be a major tourist attraction for the region and attract 130,000 visitors a year.
“What we do in Bombala will set the precedent for the rest of the Queanbeyan to Bombala rail corridor, and we should start off as we mean to continue.
“The most important thing that we can do with this pilot study is to test the feasibility of the dual-use corridor. … Snowy Monaro stands to benefit most from having both, and they are complementary attractions.”
During the meeting, councillor Narelle Davis pushed back on that approach, which she labelled as a “pipe dream” that would hold work on the project back.
She said community groups hadn’t shared “any sort of document or feasibility study or trial development plan or costing” to the council.
“The reality is, as a council, we will be taking on the risk, because we’re taking on the lease on the rail corridor.”
She also said “the whole proposal” would only be ready by 2030, given the work to rail infrastructure (such as the sleepers) that would be needed.
The risk to SMRC was echoed by Cr Rose.
“[We’re] being shovelled, potentially, the cost of maintenance of this whole rail corridor … I think we need to be very, very careful in the longer term, because this issue of putting additional cost onto the ratepayers is a really big issue for me.
“I think it won’t be supported by the ratepayers of the area.”
Debate about the council’s position on the project’s future has now stretched over two meetings. Photo: Gail Eastaway.
Cr Rose also said that before the meeting, he spoke with Bombala residents and found limited interest in the shared-use corridor.
“No one was very much interested in the rail trail. … It’s not seen as a priority for the town.
“There are more pressing needs, including roads, infrastructure and services. There’s real doubt about the economic benefits claimed. There are concerns about ongoing cost maintenance and council debt.”
He also agreed with Cr Davis’ argument that the council would potentially be exposing itself if it pushed ahead with the shared-use corridor.
But councillor Bob Stewart was confident the project was supported by residents.
“I’ll take you on [about the community support], and I’ll be very confident that you’ll be a long way behind.”
He called on his fellow councillors to commit to the shared-use corridor.
“Hopefully, we can probably get it done properly and a good outcome will be done for that community.
“I applaud you, just stop all this silly rot that’s going on, just get on with the job and give the Bombala [and] Delegate people a go.”
Cr Rooney also said that just one of six sleepers would need to be replaced and that this work was being investigated by a community group.
He also warned that SMRC “can’t just dismiss” volunteer support for this project, saying that it risked affecting them.
“There are 36 volunteers out there who have been spending decades maintaining the Bombala railway station, which is a significant tourism attraction in its own right.
“They will walk away … there’s no reason why we need to shut them down. Dual-use corridors are possible.”
The rescission motion ultimately failed, meaning the decision from the February meeting will stand.
