Eumundi local Michael Whitty has been working hard with the Eumundi Historic Association (EHA) to re-open a 13 kilometre stretch of the former steam train route to walkers and this week, their dream is a little closer to being a reality.
Mr Whitty said he has met with the Department of Transport and Main Road (DTMR) and hopes to offer once weekly guided walks in the coming months.
Progress of re-opening the former north line, which runs from Eumundi to Cooroy between the Bruce Highway and current train line, is slow due to sections of the corridor being private property.
Mr Whitty said as the land becomes available through lease or the sale of private property, he is working to secure the corridors needed to connect the sections already reclaimed.
So far approximately five and a half kilometres of the 13 kilometre track has been reclaimed and Mr Whitty is busy slashing and maintaining the land.
Because sections of the walking track run through private property, Mr Whitty said he would love to offer guided walks through the former train route.
“People would meet at Eumundi Railway Station on a Sunday afternoon and catch the train to Cooroy,” he said.
The group would then walk back to Eumundi via Myall Street then into Nandroya Road, down into the old railway corridor, through the Grasstree and Finley Road easements then ford across North Maroochy River.
Walkers would then travel behind the old Eumundi Butter Factory, through the Noosa Road underpass and into the Eumundi Markets precinct.
The walk would be 12.5 kilometres long and take about three hours to complete.
Mr Whitty said he is excited about offering guided walks as opening the track to the public for 24 hour access is still years away as many of the sections of track run through private property.
Mr Whitty said the inclusion of a walkway at Nandroya Road has been a gift to the project making the guided tours a possibility.
“This is going to make the construction of this Nandroya Road upgrade and the included walkway a pleasure to watch,” he said.
“We should be then able to slash a walkway connection through the long grass along the embankment connecting the new footpath with the old rail corridor starting at Nandroya railway overpass.”
Mr Whitty will soon release more details on the guided tours.
