The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail is one of three new regional recreation trails in south east Queensland. The Department of Infrastructure and Planning is overseeing the development, management and maintenance of the trail in partnership with Ipswich City, South Burnett and Somerset Regional councils.

ATHRA takes on the BVRT

Message from Wayne Wendt, MP Member for Ipswich West and Chair of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Steering Committee

Dear Friends of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, I hope this initiative can help to inform the many people involved or interested in the on-going development of the BVRT. These are the Key Stakeholders in the BVRT

A significant amount of work has taken place in the last 12 months, with 2 new sections now open and planning underway for the official opening of 100km by July this year. In July last year, the Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe MP, Minister for Infrastructure and Planning opened the Esk section of the trail at the Esk Multicultural Festival. Then in November 2009, Cr Graeme Lehmann, Mayor of Somerset Regional Council and I officially opened the 7km section south of Toogoolawah to Ottaba.

Since then, the BVRT team at the Department of Infrastructure and Planning have been hard at work planning events and completing construction of the 63km of BVRT between Fernvale and Toogoolawah.

South Burnett Regional Council has been very active putting the finishing touches on new trail infrastructure on the Linville to Blackbutt section. This is in preparation for up coming events to take place mid 2010.

The 3rd round of the BVRT community partnerships program is now open so I hope all eligible applicants take the time and make the effort to check the criteria for grants and make an application by the 14th May.

I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming events on the trail.

If you have any news about the BVRT, please send it to BVRT Project Officer Kaushik Singh from the Department of Infrastructure and Planning at his email address

Keeping BVRT on track,

Wayne Wendt MP
Member for Ipswich West.

ATHRA takes on the BVRT

On Sunday May 2nd the first national trail ride for the Australian Trail Horse Riders Association (ATHRA) was hosted by the ATHRA Queensland branch. Riders and horses departed from the Fernvale Futures Centre heading 100km north on the constructed sections of the BVRT to finish at Blackbutt. Sixty two riders from all over Australia and overseas travelled along the Trail stopping at Coominya, Esk and Toogoolawah along the way enjoying some of South East Queensland's best country-side and hospitality. The ride concluded at Blackbutt with two days of riding the local trails near Blackbutt and Benarkin. For further information visit the ATHRA website

On Friday, 7th of May, South Burnett Regional Council and the BVRT Management Committee welcomed the ATHRA riders to Blackbutt and launched of the Trails of Blackbutt and the SEQ Active Trails Draft Implementation Guidelines. The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Ambassadors and the local community hosted a free sausage sizzle breakfast, with a welcome ceremony, led by Cr David Carter, Mayor South Burnett Regional Council, for the ATHRA riders.

Round 3 of the Community partnerships program now open!

The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail community partnerships program is a grants program open to not-for-profit, incorporated community organisations, local councils and tertiary institutions throughout South East Queensland.

Grants between $2,000 and $10,000 are available for local organisations to undertake activities and projects during 2010/2011 that support the delivery and operation of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. Previous grant recipients include the Brisbane Valley Pony and Hack Club's Upgrade of Toogoolawah Showgrounds facilities, Brisbane Valley Heritage Trails Inc for interpretive signage at the station grounds, and the Esk multicultural Festival.

Applications close on Friday 14 May 2010. Applicants will receive written notification of the outcome of their application. For further information please visit http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/bvrt.

BVRT Tourism Opportunities Workshop and Visitor Information Centre Volunteer Information Day

The Department of Infrastructure and Planning in partnership with Queensland Tourism (QT) will host an information day on Tuesday15 June with special guest speaker, Dr Sue Beeton. Sue is Associate Professor and Head of School for Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management at La Trobe University in Victoria.

Tourism operators and local businesses will have the opportunity to attend workshops about the potential contribution the BVRT and other recreation trails could make to the local community and economy and possible new tourism business opportunities.

To express your interest in attending, send an email to project officer Kaushik Singh

Rail Trail Fun Run train rolls on in 2010

In what will be its 8th year, the Rail Trail Fun Run will take place on Sunday 11 July on the section of trail between Fernvale to Lowood. Somerset Regional Council is pleased to announce that the major sponsors of this year's event will be Supa IGA Lowood and Tarong Energy.

As always, the day will be about much more than the run itself, with a fantastic array of family entertainment lined up at the finish area on the Lowood State School oval. The fun will include music, food, face painting, jumping castle, rock climbing wall, giant slide, and much more.

Registrations will soon be open via www.railtrailfunrun.com.au or simply by completing an entry form which will shortly be available from all Council offices, libraries and numerous retail outlets.

All entries received before Friday 25 June will go in the draw to win a FREE tandem skydive with Ramblers Parachute Centre. As an added bonus, competitors who also enter the Park2Park on Sunday 25 July will go in the draw to win a $949 cash prize!

For further details about this event contact Scott Aurisch on 5424 4000 or email saurisch@somerset.qld.gov.au

BVRT Diary dates!

14 May, 5:00pm - BVRT community partnerships program closes

15 June, 9:00am - 5:00pm - BVRT Tourism opportunities workshop and information day at Blackbutt

19 June - Blackbutt - Opening of BVRT to Nukku Rd

11 July - Rail Trail Fun Run - Fernvale to Lowood

31 July - Esk Multicultural Festival - Esk

12 September - Official opening of Active Trails of Blackbutt at the Bloomin Beautiful Blackbutt Festival

Rail Trail Ride Only $350 for 9 Fantastic Days!

1 - 9 May 2010, Fernvale to Blackbutt

The ride details and the official entry form is now available here and on the Queensland section under State Forms. Be quick to secure your sport for this popular event. Get in quick - numbers will need to be capped at 100. Visit ATHRA's website for the official ATHRA Club invitation. ATHRA Queensland, in association with ATHRA National and the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail are pleased to announce this inaugural ride to be held in May 2010.

ATHRA Queensland, in association with ATHRA National and the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail are pleased to announce this inaugural ride to be held in May 2010.

Be one of the first to travel the old Brisbane Valley rail line from Fernvale to Blackbutt in which participants will have the opportunity to experience the history and landscape of the Brisbane River Valley.

The trail follows the old rail line along the western side of the Brisbane River, through farming landscapes, native and plantation forests, rural, residential and country towns, culminating with the grand finale in Blackbutt. It is bound to be an unforgettable experience!

We are still finalising the last details for camping and catering, but those of you who have been on our September Camps you know that you are always well fed and great camping facilities are our always a priority.

Of course this event is only for ATHRA members and as we already have people confirmed as travelling from interstate to participate, if you would like to secure your spot in what will be a fantastic event, please contact either Claire Bourke on 0418 438 807 or Janice Turner on 0428 750 145.

http://www.athra.com.au/

Toogoolawah on track for town's rail trail.

Everyone is welcome to enjoy the official opening BBQ.

On Saturday 28 November by Wayne Wendt, MP Member for Ipswich West and Chair of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Steering Committee and Cr Graeme Lehmann, Mayor Somerset Regional Council will officially open another 7km of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail from Toogoolawah to Ottaba.

Last year the state government committed $8.8 million over five years to the development of three regional recreation trails: the Boonah to Ipswich Trail, Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, and Maroochy River Canoe Trail.

Regional trails are an important part of the government's goal of protecting more land for public recreation and reducing the number of obese Queenslanders by a third by 2020.

The trails also contribute to the regional economy by encouraging tourism and recreational businesses and help preserve the region's cultural and natural heritage with the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail recently identified by Tourism Queensland as one of South East Queensland Country's tourism development priorities.

The original railway line through the Brisbane Valley was built during the early years of last century to transport supplies to the growing number of small farmers in the Valley, and to transport milk products, timber and stock to Brisbane markets.

The last rail motor service on the line was in 1989 and the railway line was finally closed later that year.

The official opening will mark the 40th anniversary of the steam train to run along the Brisbane Valley line with the unveiling of the Toogoolawah trail head and the opening of just over 7km of trail linking Toogoolawah Showgrounds to site of the old Ottaba train station.

The BVRT trail head is located at the Toogoolawah Train Station grounds and will ultimately provide other infrastructure including horse hitching rail, bike rack, picnic facilities and a new life to the town of Toogoolawah.

All members of the community are invited to attend a free sausage sizzle from 8.30am with local market stalls including the Harlin State School, Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Ambassadors, Brisbane Valley Heritage Trails, South East Queensland Catchments and the Department Infrastructure and Planning.

What: Unveiling of the BVRT trailhead and the official opening, Toogoolawah to Ottaba section of Brisbane Valley Rail Trail

When: Saturday 28 November: Sausage sizzle, 8.30am Official proceedings: 9am

Where: Toogoolawah Station Grounds, Cressbrook Street Toogoolawah

More information on the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, local heritage and facilities in the Brisbane Valley can be found at the local visitor information centres at Ipswich, Fernvale, Esk, Blackbutt and.

Beware of snakes on the trail.

With the rising temperatures so do the snakes stir from their underground holes. Please be careful while enjoying the trail.

For more information please visit the QLD Government Ministerial Media Statements

Community Partnerships Funding Round 2 now open!

The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail community partnerships program is a grants program open to not-for-profit, incorporated community organisations, local councils and tertiary institutions throughout South East Queensland.

The program will provide grants of between $2,000 and $10,000 (GST exclusive) to contribute to eligible project costs. Up to 50% of the total eligible project costs can receive funding. Requests for a higher contribution may be considered in special cases.

For application guidelines visit the Department of Infrastructure and Planning website.