Mary2Bay Rail Trail Home

In addition to making professional promotional videos about our Rail Trail, Fraser McDonald has launched into producing a range of quality T-shirts that feature the map from Maryborough to the Bay, and even some with our ditty on the back. Reasonably priced  as well – order here today.

Fraser has produced an excellent short promotional video of our Rail Trail.  This is a great tool to inform everyone of the many opportunities our recreational Rail Trail presents.  Click here to view.

Fraser then went on, over several weeks, to create a 6 minute documentary about the Mary2Bay Rail Trail, which is also public on Youtube. Show me!

Now, as icing on the cake, Fraser has also provided FCBUG with our own YouTube channel, raising the Group’s professional profile.  Be sure to subscribe to the Channel and like it as well.

Another good movie, featuring local talent and nearby Rail Trails has been made by Andrew Demack from Bicycle Queensland. Very inspiring for growing regions, share with your local Councillor. Click! 

As with any good news, share these videos far and wide. Loads of effort has gone into their production to highlight the value of our Rail Trail, as well as the economic benefits for both cities.

Should anyone wish to volunteer to help out with maintanance on the Trail, contact the Team through our email address frasercoastBUGM2BRT@gmail.com. 

Promotion

Brochures promoting M2BRT have been printed and are available at both Visitor Information Centres and some coffee shops. Pick one up today and share.

29 September 2024     Family Day at Takura Trail Head for first anniversary of Rail Trail

This event proved very popular, and not just for the coffee van and free sausage sizzle. A number of families arrived and others rode from Hervey Bay. All were impressed with the improvements FCBUG volunteers had made since the Trail opened a year ago.

Thanks to Frank Ekin from Wildlife Qld Fraser Coast for setting up a display and for volunteers who signed up to help out with maintaining the Trail.

27 October 2024         A combined Rotary Club of Maryborough and Hervey Bay’s Sunrise hosted their annual  CRoW (Cycle Run Or Walk) event on the Rail  Trail.  It was a fundraiser for ending Polio and had two options for starting – Takura  Trail Head or Churchill Mine Rd Trail Head for a 10km out and back circuit.  A very successful day out and enjoyed by all who attended.  Ambassador Dave McLeod manned a display at Chuchill Mine Trail Head, where a new shelter has been built.

19 February  2024     A Rendezvous occurred at Churchill Mine Rd Trail Head.  Riders from Maryborough and Hervey Bay converged on the Trail from respective towns, for a gathering. Several others drove there. Drinks and cake were provided by Ken, Aaron from FCRC Communications Team covered the event with photos and a drone.  More such events will occur down the Track.  Thanks to Wayne and Paul for co-ordinating it.

3 DECEMBER  2024 

1. FIELD WORK. Ken McDonald and Dennis Johnson.

•     In  the  last  2  months,  field  work  has  slowed  a  little.  Geohex  and  concreting  the ramps  at Bridge 3 was completed.  Some trees were trimmed at the rock road bypass at Bridge 3.
•     The rest shelter at Churchill Mines Road trailhead was completed and used by Rotary in a und-raising event in November.
•     The  rock  causeways  at  Black  Swamp  Creek  and  Stockyard  Creek  were  completed.  FCRC nstalled bollards to keep 4WDs out. There has been a lot of favourable feedback.
•     Maintenance of the Takura regenerated areas continued.
•     Thanks to Ivan B; Martin G; Dennis and Lorna J; Ross C; Phil E; Kevin A; Max V; Mike and Jen A. Dave McL. There were about 150 volunteer hours in these 2 months.

2. WORK PLAN – Short term. Ken and Dennis.

• •Geohex and concrete short ramps at Bridges 6 if weather permits.
• •Regenerate a small section beside the RT at Takura just west of Koppers and improve the road entrance to Takura. Involves Steve Neilsen; Tina Raveneau and Indigenous Trainees.

3. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. Max Voigt.

• •Max Voigt has been appointed by FCRC to be a community representative on the M2BRT Advisory Committee for the next two years.
• •As a result of FCBUG advocating to the FCRC to submit an application to the Federal Government Active Transport Fund for funding for the RT, a “special Advisory Committee Meeting” has been called in the first week of December to consider an application. Funding of up to $5M is available and FCBUG’s recommendation (supported by Mary Inc) is to apply for funding to complete the RT section from Aldershot to Maryborough CBD.
• •Progress via the “signage working group” (main contributor being FCBUG) is being made with some new signage particularly in the Hervey Bay urban section of the RT and the rural section beginning at Piggford Lane expected to materialise in the first quarter of next year.
•     The next Advisory Committee is scheduled for 19 December 2024.

4. EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION. Dave McLeod.

• •A meeting with Craig England and David Gleadow of DTMR at Takura was productive with good updates on developments on the local scene and other Rail Trails in Queensland.
• • Duke of Edinburgh ride on RT from Piggford Lane to CMRd for St Mary’s College on Friday 1st November went well.
• • Combined Fraser Coast Rotary Clubs ran another CRoW (Cycle, Run or Walk) on the Takura to CMR section Sunday October 27. This is a fundraiser for global polio.
• • Successful promotional stall at the Hervey Bay Hundy Triathlon Expo on 16 November. A number of people asked for further information and many who walked past discovered the local Rail Trail – if they weren’t already aware.
• •FB page currently running at Members 4576.

5. MONEY. Mike Allsopp and Ken McD.

• • All grant funded projects are within allocation and have work plans for expenditure.   Funds expenditure for month and remaining are as per the Treasurer’s report.

6. OTHER

• Mike Allsopp takes  over  the  M2BRT Project  Manager role  from  Ken McDonald on  31 Dec 2024.  Ken will remain a team member. Brian Fielding joined the project team again.

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If you would like to discuss any issues, contact one of the people below.

Ken McDonald. 0419 664 258                                         Max Voigt 0400 490 566                                          Dave McLeod 0439 532 737

1 October 2024

1. FIELD WORK.   Ken McDonald and Dennis Johnson.

•  A lot of work in the last 2 months.  Geohex and concreting of Bridge 2 was completed with help from the Indigenous trainees.
• Bridge 4, the 90m long bridge, has road base laid, compacted, then geohexed and concreted in 4 half day working Bs. Great effort and thanks to all. Dennis Johnson organised it all very well. Unfortunately, the Indigenous Trainees were unavailable to help us.
• A rock crossing on the north side of Bridge 3 was completed.
•  Indigenous Trainees in Environmental Mgt trimmed overgrowth west of Churchill Mines Rd
• Steve Neilsen slashed the grass edges west of Churchill Mine Rd and deepened a drain that runs parallel to the Trail about 2 km west of Takura.  This was a serious erosion zone.
• A concrete pad was laid at the Churchill Mines Rd Trailhead, ready for a shelter and tables.
• A low-level rock causeway was built at Black Swamp Creek, with Ken McDonald supervising a small team of contractors and reporting to the FCRC. A similar crossing at Stockyard Creek was started. These two crossings are interim solutions which have severe Government environmental restrictions on what materials can be used (eg. pipes, geohex & concrete not permitted). The long-term permanent solutions will be expensive decking on top of the existing concrete plinths.
• Thanks to Ivan B; Martin G; Dennis and Lorna J; Ross C; Phil E; Kevin A; MaxV; Mike and Jen A. Bob W; Dave McL.  There were over 400 volunteer hours in these 2 months.

1. WORK PLAN – Short term.  Ken and Dennis.

•  Complete Stockyard Ck Xing.  Should be complete this week.
• Build the second Shelter at Churchill Mines Rd Trailhead
• Start geohex and concrete short ramps at Bridges 3, 4, 5 and 6
• Rock for erosion protection beside geohex at Bridge 4.

1. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.   Max Voigt.

• FCRC have called for Expression of Interest for community members to apply to represent their community groups on the AC for the next two years. The Project Team have recommended for Max Voigt to continue to represent the FCBUG.
• The FCRC has not completed drafting the Strategy Document (previously tabled by FCBUG) into the FCRC template. The FCRC have now agreed that the Council is the “Owner” of the M2BRT Project and the role of the AC, and in particular FCBUG, is one of support.
• The FCRC have confirmed the re-allocation of $20K within the Operations Budget to enable some installation of signage along the RT. The priority of work will be established by the AC’s subcommittee to advise on signage. FCBUG is represented on this subcommittee.
• The next AC meeting is scheduled for 31 October 2024

1. EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION.  Dave McLeod.

•  Potential Duke of Edinburgh ride on RT from Piggford Lane to CM Rd for St Mary’s College has shifted from Thursday 31 October to Friday 1st November.
•   Combined Fraser Coast Rotary Clubs planning to run another CRoW (Cycle, Run or Walk)
  on the Takura to CMR section Sunday October 27. This is a fundraiser for polio.
•  The Anniversary Day Celebration on 29 Sept at Takura was very successful
• Many new faces and several young families which was very pleasing
• Wildlife Qld Fraser Coast Branch provided an excellent display of birdlife in the region
• Some new volunteers signed up
• Excellent social occasion and worth repeating next year. Many thanks to the volunteers
•  FB page currently running at Members 4365
•  Info on Moony’s Camp, Walligan (adjacent Trail) can be found in Facebook; Wikicamps; Hipcamp.

1. MONEY.  Mike Allsopp and Ken McD.

•   We are still in a good position with funding. Overall, there is close to a total of $70,000 from various funds.

1. OTHER.

• A trickle of RT riders from afar continues. Some stay at Moony’s Camp right beside the RT at the end of Old Walligan Rd. Perfect location for bush riders.  Moony’s helped us with machinery storage, which was a big help.

If you would like to discuss and issues, contact one of the people below.

Ken McDonald  0419 664 258                                                     Max Voigt 0400 490 566                                      Dave McLeod 0439 532 737