The Planning Begins!

Lisa Glastonbury, Wagga Rail Trail chairperson, signing the Implementation Plan contract

The Wagga Rail Trail Committee is excited to announce a significant project milestone this month. Inspiring Place – a firm of urban planners and landscape architects, has been appointed to undertake the trail Implementation Plan.

We have written this week to all project stakeholders to advise them of the planning process, but really wanted to let all our supporters know how excited we are to finally be taking this step.

This important milestone would not have been possible without the generous support of more than 200 local people and organisations that so generously contributed to the ‘Make the Wagga Rail Trail Pozible’ crowd funding campaign in December.

During this campaign, $50,052 was raised in donations, with several thousand dollars also contributed in-kind.

Inspiring Place is a Hobart-based consultancy with considerable experience and a strong track record in trail planning, adventure recreation, community engagement and nature based tourism.

We specifically engaged Inspiring Place because they have recognised community engagement credentials and we know that both the community and project demands real community consultation.

This is not about ticking boxes. It’s about bringing together all sectors of the community to have their say in the consultation process, because this trail will be for our whole community.

Through this consultative approach, the Wagga Rail Trail project team will be seeking the best outcomes and the best trail experience for the community of Wagga Wagga.

Inspiring Place will be in Wagga Wagga in April, for the first of several planned visits over the coming months. The Implementation Plan process involves four major steps:

Phase 1: Reviewing project information and meeting with the Wagga Rail Trail Project Team and Wagga Wagga City Council

Phase 2: Community consultation

Phase 3: Preparing an Implementation Plan, comprising a Strategic Directions Report, Route Plan and indicative costing.

Phase 4: Presenting the Plan to stakeholders and the community

This is a major milestone in bringing the trail to life and we are really looking forward to giving everyone an opportunity to have their say in the process of designing a world-class trail right here in Wagga Wagga.