Recommendations

1. Resolve to endorse the Torbay-Elleker Rail Trail Development Plan and seek to implement the recommendations contained therein.
   
   
2. Make this report available for public scrutiny, and invite submissions from the community on the findings and proposals of this study. Revise and update this report in light of comments and feedback received.
   
   
3. Refer this report to the City of Albany for consideration and comment, and request that the City of Albany make budget allocations for the ongoing development of the trail.
   
   
4. Refer this feasibility report to the Department of Environment and Conservation for consideration and comment (as the railway corridor is highly likely to be used as the future route of the Munda Biddi Trail).
   
   
5. Commence the process of seeking funds from other sources and funding programs for the actual construction of the rail-trail (and associated one-on-one consultation with adjoining landowners).

Should the community decide to proceed with the development of the rail trail, it is recommended that:

1. A Committee of Management, comprising representatives of the Torbay Catchment Group, the City of Albany, the Department of Environment and Conservation and adjoining landowners, be formed to guide the ongoing planning, design and construction, management and maintenance of the proposed rail trail and the former railway corridor;
   
   
2. A community-driven Corridor Management Plan be prepared before construction, including a comprehensive maintenance program for the trail and corridor;
   
   
3. A Bush Fire Risk Management Plan be prepared for the corridor;
   
   
4. A maintenance program, as part of the Corridor Management Plan, be prepared detailing the ongoing maintenance of the trail; and
   
   
5. A comprehensive program of one-on-one in the field consultation with affected landowners be undertaken, to resolve together all pertinent issues.

This is a significant community project. The corridor is approximately 7.3km long. Two communities, State Government departments and the local government need to be involved. In addition, there are many other stakeholders, both private and public, all with a strong interest in this project.

While the Torbay Catchment Group has been the primary 'driver' of this phase of work it is important to consider whether it is appropriate for the Group to continue to be the driving force into the next stages of the project.

One alternative would be for a Committee of Management to be appointed (as recommended), to seek funding for the progressive implementation, and to address the issues raised in this report (particularly the one-on-one consultation with affected landowners).

Of course, it remains an option for the existing Torbay Catchment Group to continue to take a lead role into the next phase of the project. Members of the Group are developing a detailed understanding of many of the issues and opportunities, and may wish to continue to facilitate future stages.

The disused railway corridor provides the Torbay Catchment Group with opportunities to get involved in a range of land care issues. For the Green Skills organisation in Denmark, the Denmark Rail Trail involved not just construction of a recreational trail, but also fencing, revegetation and bush rehabilitation work at various locations along that Rail Trail. Green Skills undertook weed control on 6ha of the railway reserve as well as 2.7 ha (and 4000 plants) of revegetation with local native species. Green Skills also coordinated fencing 400m to ensure stock exclusion from the Quarram Rail Reserve and Siding site and the revegetation site.

Similarly, the proposed Torbay Elleker Rail Trail would enable the Torbay Catchment Group to be involved in weed eradication, revegetation, stock control and fencing of remnant vegetation along the disused railway corridor.

This Rail Trail development plan includes various environmental projects very relevant to the work of the Torbay Catchment Group which could proceed even if the trail project did not.

Should the community decide to "do nothing" now, it is highly likely that the trail connection between Torbay and Elleker will become a part of the Munda Biddi Trail within several years and therefore the community's ability to direct the development of this trail will potentially be diminished.