A successful community event held last week in Newstead brought locals together to explore the exciting potential of a proposed rail trail.
This event was the first of Newstead 2050’s Community Conversations for 2025. Dimity Fifer, president of Newstead 2050, welcomed everyone to the event, saying “Newstead 2050 is so happy to host CMRT and see such a great group of highly engaged local residents who came out to support and brainstorm the benefits of the Rail Trail for our town.”
While the construction of the Rail Trail is still in the pipeline, the event focused on what must be done now to ensure the town can benefit from the anticipated increase in visitor numbers. Organisers and speakers emphasized that simply having a trail won’t guarantee success—it’s what the town does around it that will make the difference.
‘This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” said Steve Foskey, one of the event organisers. “But trails don’t bring visitors on their own. We need to make sure Newstead becomes a destination—somewhere people want to visit and stay.”
Participants discussed a wide range of strategies to prepare the town, including developing local attractions, enhancing public amenities, improving signage,and encouraging businesses to tailor offerings to active visitors. Key sectors such as hospitality, including cafés, restaurants, and accommodation providers,are expected to be among the first to see opportunities.
A central theme of the event was the need for a town-wide branding initiative.
“We need to clearly define what makes Newstead special,” said Greg James. “Whether it’s our natural beauty, our heritage, or our community spirit, we must develop a brand that captures it and speaks to potential visitors.”
To kickstart the preparations, the event concluded with a call for volunteers to form a Rail Trail Readiness Group—a grassroots team tasked with developing strategies, supporting local business innovation, and creating a cohesive vision for Newstead’s future.
Community members interested in joining the group or learning more about future planning efforts are encouraged to contact Greg (greg@cmrailtrail.org.au) or Steve (steve@cmrailtrail.org.au)