Diana Roberts, The Nimbin GoodTimes

The concept for walking paths around Nimbin was originally envisaged as a three-stage project in 2007. Stage one connected Cullen Street to Alternative Way and Cecil Street. The exact route for this stage was defined in 2013, after extensive consultations with the community and affected private landholders.

In 2018, due to concerns raised by landowners who purchased after 2013, the route was redrawn to follow a right of footway dedicated to Council.

In 2020, when grant funding became a possibility, Council requested that the community map out a small section of stage two, running along the drainage gully servicing the Aquarius village subdivision.

A recommended path was mapped out by Permaculture designer, Robyn Francis in consultation with Lismore Council and the landowner, and was subsequently incorporated into Stage One.

The Nimbin Community Centre’s subsequent purchase of 11a Alternative Way, now known as Aquarius Park, opened up options to further refine the route.

Following protracted and unsuccessful negotiations with landowners to the east of Cullen Street, the section from the School of Arts to the Headers’ field was withdrawn from the project. The funds available for this section were redirected to Aquarius Park, allowing for a second creek crossing and connecting the park itself with Peace Park and the adjoining recreational precinct.

In December 2023 a well-attended community picnic day was held. People were guided along the proposed route and their ideas were sent to the project manager for consideration.

The walk was never going to be stair-free, but extensive thought and planning went into making the walk through Aquarius Park wheelchair and stroller friendly and compliant with Australian Standards for access and disability.

Gradients in this regard are important, providing the design team with challenges and requiring the removal of some trees.

Aquarius Park, which ends at the big dam is in community ownership, and its acquisition ensures 60 per cent of the Rainbow Walk is wheelchair friendly. There is also a requirement to provide two disability car parks to serve the new toilet block and Aquarius Park.

The section beyond the dam will be owned and managed by Lismore Council. To make this section disability friendly was both beyond the available funding and environmentally undesirable.

It would have required lengths of elevated walkways, given the topography, and the removal of extensive regeneration work. These things only become clear once comprehensive designs are worked up and costed.

A next stage will see the walk connect with the centre of the village and to the extension of Alternative Way when it is brought through to Cecil Street. The design work for this has been completed.

Further stages, as envisaged in the original concept plan, would see the walk extended up to High Street, out to the Nimbin Rocks and back to the village.

Rainbow Walking Track opening in pictures

This article appeared in The Nimbin GoodTimes, April 2025.