CONNECT PROGRAM

The Northern Rivers Rail Trail Collective manages and maintains the NRRT to drive social and economic benefits for the Northern Rivers as a premier and award-winning tourism product.

The Northern Rivers Rail Trail Collective operates the NRRT as a commercial tourism product on behalf of and in collaboration with its four member Councils (Tweed Shire Council, Byron Shire Council, Lismore City Council and Richmond Valley Council).

The Councils (leasee) hold an exclusive licence from Transport for NSW (lessor) over the majority of the rail corridor and associated assets and are required to maintain these state-owned assets at our own cost.

While the NRRT is a public recreational trail, the land tenure is in effect a private lease to the Councils, and does not operate or be classified as community or operational land.

The NRRT Collective model is essential to ensure the long-term viability and significant investment made by the member Councils into delivering the NRRT for the benefit of the Northern Rivers communities.

This model supports a fair contribution from businesses and commercial operators who rely on the NRRT as a public asset for income. 100% of all income from the NRRT is invested into the NRRT for the betterment of our guest experience and to support our local economies and businesses. This model ensures we:

1. Responsibly and sustainably manage the NRRT towards a goal of cost neutrality to minimise the financial impacts to Councils and their communities.
2. Maintain the Rail Trail with consistent standards and guest experiences across the complete 130km regional tourism product.
3. Promote and market the rail trail to drive new and repeat visitation, in turn contributing to the regions economy and supporting local business.

The NRRT is also the first multi-local government area rail trail in NSW, spanning four different LGAs, each with unique offerings. Unlike many other rail trails in Australia, the NRRT operations is the responsibility of the local Councils to manage, maintain and market, not the state government. While we are grateful for the significant contribution to construct the rail trail, the ongoing costs for managing and marketing the NRRT is the responsibility of the Councils. The rail corridor and rail infrastructure including any improvements made by the Councils remain the property of Transport for NSW.

We own the rail trail as a collective and rely on a range of income streams to sustain our commercial operations to deliver the rail trail for our communities.

As a commercial business that owns the NRRT product, we have an open and transparent operating model that welcomes and collaborates with businesses who wish to commercially operate on or in conjunction with the NRRT.

If you are a business owner wanting to establish commercial operations on or in conjunction with the NRRT visit the following links for information about Commercial Operator Permits or the benefits of joining the Marketing and Signage Program.

The Northern Rivers Rail Trail brand is trademarked and requires written and express permission from the Northern Rivers Rail Trail for any third-party use.

Connect program members can access and download a huge range of Rail Trail marketing resources for promotional purposes to support you and your business. Assets include Connect Program brand guidelines, Marketing Tips and a Connect Program signage catalogue.

Members can also access campaign logos and images via Brandkit. If you are a Connect Program member and do not have access to please contact our team at marketing@northernriversrailtrail.com.au

The Connect program is driven by a set of ambitious goals aimed at fostering the growth and success of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail. We believe in the power of community, collaboration, and sustainability to create a Rail Trail experience that surpasses expectations. Here are the key goals:

1. Develop and support a community of rail trail operators committed to growing the Northern Rivers Rail trail
2. Establish the connect framework which provides value and benefit and ensures those gaining commercial benefit from the rail trail operations fairly and equitably contribute to the ongoing trail marketing, management and maintenance
3. Collaborate with adjacent landowners to develop sustainable experiences from paddock to farm-gate
4. Provide existing local business the opportunity to connect with the rail trail and collaborate with other operators to develop products and experiences that celebrate the trail
5. Explore opportunities for any new/ start up business to fill any market gaps or areas existing business are not able to service.

We know everyone is super excited about planning group rides and other exciting opportunities on the Rail Trail. We can’t wait to host you either but our immediate focus for our small team is on opening, connecting with member councils and having safe operations and creating great guest experiences for locals and visitors.

While we progress our event management and permit requirements to efficiently, safely and legally coordinate events and large groups on the trail, it means that we will not be considering or approving organised trail events until 2026 (with the exception of the Rail Trail opening events coordinated by council).

Tweed Shire Council is responsible for the management of organised events on the Tweed section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail. Richmond Valley Council is responsible for the management of organised events on the Richmond section. Once a rail trail event application process is up and running, an event permit will be required to host and run a events on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.

Types of organised events include but are not limited to:

• Competitive events
• Social (non-competitive) events
• Fundraising and charitable events

Private groups (30 people or less) and individuals involved in recreational activities, other than for commercial purposes, do not need a permit. Examples include social rides, bushwalking or nature study groups, bird watching or general outdoor activities.

Groups should read the safety tips and rules, break into smaller groups for a great rail trail experience for all and book ahead at trail experiences or cafes/pubs/restaurants so they know you are coming.

For now, this approach will help us provide ample opening time to test out the new rail trail, our infrastructure and importantly to let locals and visitors enjoy the rail trail. We look forward to opening the event applications for ideas and thoughts soon.

Thanks for your understanding and please feel free to contact us to discuss rail trail events at marketing@northernriversrailtrail.com.au.