General News
16 May, 2025
Castlemaine-Maryborough Rail Trail to proceed with pre-construction stage
The Castlemaine-Maryborough Rail Trail (CMRT) is a step closer to construction following the appointment of a Melbourne-based architecture group to lead the next stages of the project.
CMRT has appointed Fitzgerald Frisby Landscape Architecture (FFLA) in collaboration with a team of specialised subconsultants to lead stage two of the CMRT project, the pre-construction phase.
This follows an extensive evaluation with a range of criteria, including the capability and capacity to perform the work and how well the proposal addressed the scope of work.
The tender evaluation team consisted of representatives from CMRT, Mount Alexander Shire Council and Central Goldfields Shire Council.
CMRT recieved a State Government grant of $400,000 earlier this year, which will be used to employ consultants to conduct this stage.
CMRT president Janice Simpson said she was pleased to welcome FFLA to take charge of the second stage of the project.
“The successful tenderer was selected from a robust field of businesses based throughout Australia. Competence and skill were key in our deliberations. It will be good to work with this professional and diligent team of experts again,” she said.
Following the successful completion of stage one in 2023, FFLA will progress the project by delivering a Reference Design and undertake necessary reports, including a Cultural Heritage Management Plan and Ecological Assessment.
The team will also provide cost estimates for the trail construction and develop an operational model to support the ongoing management of the rail trail.
“This stage will take care of compliance issues and will produce a reference design that contractors will use to construct the trail. It is the foundation on which the trail can be built,” Ms Simpson said.
She anticipates by obtaining these milestones, the CMRT project can be completed on time.
“We will definitely complete the project in our time frame, and will then be ready to construct. Construction is dependent on locating funding,” Ms Simpson said.
Central Goldfields Shire mayor Grace La Vella said this milestone was an exciting step for tourism in the region.
“We know that developments of this type bring people from far and wide to both our larger and smaller towns. It also opens up new possibilities for their communities to redevelop facilities and infrastructure left behind by the closure of rail services, many of which are historic landmarks,” she said.
“It makes sense to turn these neglected paths winding through our beautiful landscape back into wonderful trails of discovery.”
FFLA will also engage with landowners along the proposed trail alignment and conduct broader community consultation to ensure local perspectives are considered in the design and planning process.
The pre-construction project will be completed by June 2026 and leads directly into the construction of the rail trail between Maryborough and Castlemaine.
CMRT will work to establish funding sources for the construction, and is hopeful it will begin building in late 2026.