Last week the Tasmanian Government announced that an independent assessment would be conducted on an alternative proposal for a tourist and heritage rail operation on the redundant North-East Rail corridor.
The Dorset Council has received $1.47 million from the Australian Government to convert the corridor to a cycling trail.
I can confirm that this independent expert assessment, will be funded solely by the Tasmanian Government through Infrastructure Tasmania, with no contribution required from the Dorset Council.
Infrastructure Tasmania will appoint a suitably qualified, nationally recognised expert in the field of tourism and heritage passenger rail operations to assess the business case of the Launceston and North-East Railway Group.