The long-term future of one of Queensland’s best-known heritage tourist attractions remains uncertain after the state government stopped short of ruling out major changes to its operations.
The Mary Valley Rattler, which runs between Gympie and Amamoor, is seeking answers over new regional planning that identifies future ‘rail trail’ infrastructure in the same area.
The Draft 2026 Wide Bay Burnett Regional Plan and Infrastructure Plan, currently open for feedback, no longer specifically identifies the Rattler as a tourism attraction – a significant change from the 2023 plan.
The new document also does not include a detailed route for the suggested Mary Valley Rail Trail or explain whether it would use the existing corridor, run alongside it or have a separate path. The railway line itself remains present on the map.
Questioned about the issue in August, Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie said there was “no change” and described the Rattler as a well-loved tourism asset.
But when asked whether the Rattler and rail trail could coexist, or whether it would be one or the other, he did not provide a definitive answer.
“I think lots of things in tourism can coexist and we’ll get the feedback from them and we’ll have a look at what the feedback is during the consultation process,” Mr Bleijie said.
Rattler general manager Sherry Lowe said the organisation had raised its concerns with relevant state government representatives but had not received the detail needed to understand what was proposed between Amamoor and Gympie.
Asked separately about claims the Rattler had contacted the state government without receiving a reply, Mr Bleijie rejected that assertion.
“Well, that’s just not true,” he said.
“We are in a public consultation phase at the moment, so they are absolutely entitled to put forward their submissions.”
Ms Lowe said she wanted to be clear the organisation had not been advised the government planned to cease rail operations.
“That does not constitute evidence that the government intends to close the railway, and we are not claiming that it does,” she told Sunshine Coast News.
“But it does provide a very legitimate reason for the Rattler, our volunteers and our community to ask questions.”
While the Rattler was not named in the 2023 statutory regional plan itself, it was specifically identified in the accompanying infrastructure supplement, which stated it should be read in conjunction with the plan.
Mr Bleijie, however, said the previous plan “did not have the Mary Valley Rattler mentioned specifically in there either”.
“So it’s not been taken out, or anything’s changing; there is no change,” he said.
“I think there is potential there for tourism opportunities. It deals with that in the planning, I think it’s an asset well-loved and liked and the regional plan, the draft we released does not change that.”
Ms Lowe said the difference in the documents was significant.
The Rattler was not consulted about the change before the draft was released, she said.
“Our concern is not simply about a line on a map.
“Regional plans guide long-term government planning, infrastructure priorities and investment.
“The Mary Valley Rattler commenced operations in October 2018 as a state government-led and council-delivered tourism project.
“It is therefore difficult to understand how an established tourism asset created through significant public investment can effectively disappear from important regional planning while proposed future infrastructure is identified.”
An existing 4.7km Mary Valley Rail Trail – a track used for walking and cycling – stretches north from Brooloo to Imbil, using part of the former Mary Valley railway corridor.
Planning is also progressing to extend the trail from Imbil through Kandanga to Amamoor – a project the Rattler supports.
Ms Lowe said discussions the organisation had previously been involved in about expansion of the rail trail had centred on that Imbil-Amamoor section, not replacing or repurposing the operational railway north of Amamoor.
“At this stage, we have not received sufficient detail to understand exactly what is proposed between Amamoor and Gympie,” she said.
“There is a significant difference between converting an existing railway corridor to a rail trail, constructing infrastructure alongside an operational railway and establishing a completely separate alignment.
“Before assumptions are made by anyone, we believe the government needs to clearly explain what the mapping represents.”
Ms Lowe said she was open to discussing a trail running alongside the railway if that was what was proposed.
But she warned it could not be assumed the two uses could safely coexist.
Any proposal to put pedestrians, cyclists or horses near the operational railway would require detailed engineering and rail-safety assessments, including consideration of fencing, separation distances, crossings, bridges, emergency access and interaction with train operations, she added.
The Rattler estimates it generates $9.4 million in annual economic impact, supports about 82 jobs and is backed by more than 100 volunteers.
Ms Lowe said 87.5 per cent of its passengers came from outside the region and about three-quarters identified the Rattler as a specific reason for their visit.
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“We want the Mary Valley Rattler and the operational Gympie-Amamoor railway clearly reinstated and recognised in the final Wide Bay Burnett Regional Plan,” Ms Lowe said.
“We also want clarification of exactly what the proposed future tourism infrastructure between Amamoor and Gympie represents.”
Public consultation on the Draft 2026 Wide Bay Burnett Regional Plan and Infrastructure Plan closes at 11.59pm on Monday, September 14.
