Plans to build an $11 million trail along a disused tramway through the northern stretches of Yass in New South Wales are set to undergo design.
Yass Valley Council has given approval for the next stage of the project and will seek funding for a detailed design of the rail trail, community consultation and construction.
The Yass Rail Trail is a proposed shared use path for pedestrians and bike riders connecting the Yass CBD to the Yass Junction Railway Station on the Sydney-Melbourne railway.
Though only 4.5km in length, the Rail Trail will be an important new active transport link and provide a boost to the local economy.
In November last year, the NSW Government provided the Yass Valley Council with $220,000 in funding as part of its Get NSW Active program to carry out a strategic assessment of the proposed trail.
This enabled the council to investigate potential business opportunities, estimated maintenance costs, indigenous sites of significance in the area and heritage considerations.
![](https://bicyclenetwork.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/bridge1.jpg)
The heritage-listed Yass River railway bridge (Credit: Yass Valley Council)
The $11 million would include restoration and maintenance costs of $4.2 million for the heritage-listed Yass River Railway Bridge along the trail.
“There are opportunities for existing businesses to amplify and new businesses to develop because of the trail,” says Yass Valley Mayor, Allan Mcgrath. “It will also allow active transport connectivity for Yass CBD with North Yass and showcase our heritage and history.”
Main image credit: Yass Valley Council