A plan to convert the old Alcoa railway line at Jarrahdale into a tourist attraction is on the right track.
The rail line once connected Alcoa’s Jarrahdale bauxite mine to their Kwinana alumina refinery, which was commissioned in 1963.
But it was closed in 1998 after Alcoa decommissioned its Jarrahdale mine.
As part of the mine closure approval, the Minister for State Development required Alcoa to consult with community groups and government departments to determine if any of the mine infrastructure could be used.
A number of proposals were considered, including using the railway to establish a tourist loop rail line in the Jarrahdale area. But by the end of 1999, no formal submissions had been made to Alcoa, and the rail line has sat without purpose ever since.
That is until now.
Buoyed by local requests, the Jarrahdale Community Collective (JCC) has been working studiously to repurpose a section of the abandoned rail line between Buckland Road and the western end of Jubb Rd into a guided pedal-powered bike tour.
JCC President Raoul Temme said the idea was considered an “imaginative” use of the abandoned rail line with a multitude of benefits to the local community.
“Jarrahdale Railbikes will be the only activity of its type on mainland Australia.
“A similar concept has already been undertaken in Tasmania,” he explained.
“It will raise the profile of Serpentine Jarrahdale and have a positive impact on tourism in the area, and increase demand for local businesses.
“It will have a volunteer focus, enhancing community engagement, and ensuring travellers have a unique and personable experience with their guides that not only promotes the activity in the region, but provides a history lesson as well.”
The pedal-powered fleet would feature an accessible cart for inclusive participation.
And with eight rides offered each weekend, the project is expected to generate approximately $800 per week to support maintenance and ongoing costs.
The business would be operated by the JCC in collaboration with the Jarrahdale Heritage Society and the Serpentine Jarrahdale Men’s Shed as a “not-for-profit entity” with a portion of takings donated back into local community groups, “reducing the financial burden on ratepayers”.
“The feasibility study is already underway with results expected by the end of the year,” Mr Temme said.
The project posed no financial outlay for the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale, but in order to secure state government funding to turn the vision into a reality, the JCC needed in-principle support from the shire.
With an important meeting for state government funding looming over the project’s steering committee, it was pivotal that the council decide to grant that support at last week’s council meeting.
But Cr Shaye Mack was concerned that the project had not yet been presented at a Policy Concept Forum for councillors to mull it over, and worried that not following the established process could set a precedent that council was willing to “cut corners” for some.
As the president of the Jarrahdale Railbikes Steering Committee, Cr Tricia Duggin was ropeable that these concerns had not been addressed earlier.
“The shire has had the request from the JCC for several months,” she said.
“We are literally at a standstill after working exceptionally hard and exceptionally fast for three months.
“We cannot negotiate with the Department of Lands, Planning and Heritage until we have in-principle support.
“We are so close to being there, and I promise you, the delay in this by two or three weeks could be the difference in us getting the funding or not.
“If this is not supported tonight, it literally will be the death knell for this project.”
But derailment was avoided, and the council voted to support the JCC’s project 6:1.
