Nimbin's Rainbow Road Walking Track

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Nimbin Rainbow Road Walking Track
April 2024 Update

Lismore City Council is pleased the construction of the Nimbin Rainbow Road Walking Track is underway, with construction of the track expected to be completed in the middle of the year, followed by final art installations, landscaping and wayfinding signage, ready for opening to the public in the second half of 2024.

The Nimbin Rainbow Road Walking Track is an exciting project to construct a 750m long track, providing the community of Nimbin and its visitors with a safe, fun and active way to enjoy the beauty of the natural environment, as well as connect with cultural and artistic expressions.

The project includes formed pathways, boardwalks and bridges, providing access to natural areas and landscape views, interpretive and wayfinding signage, local artworks, park furniture and native plantings, including the addition of 5,800 new plantings, providing additional shade and natural beauty to the area, connecting Nimbin’s recreation precinct and Aquarius Way to the vibrant village.

Construction is underway, along with the installation of one of six installations by local artists, with the remainder being erected throughout the track construction phase. The artwork installations were chosen through an expression of interest process, to provide a wonderful opportunity for the community and visitors to experience local art while exploring the parklands and natural environment. Work is also progressing by chosen production designer, Ross Wallace, on the design of the visual material and signage on and off the track.

Council will post regular updates as the project progresses and highlight any information that may be relevant to you as a community member or local business.

To stay up to date, for further information on project updates, design plans, frequently asked questions, or to find out more, please visit www.yoursay.lismore.nsw.gov.au and visit the Nimbin Rainbow Road Walking Track page.

Lismore City Council wishes to thank the Nimbin Community, Community Centre, Chamber of Commerce and private landowners for making this project possible, delivering an attraction that will be enjoyed for many years to come, as well as providing benefits and opportunities for experiences and businesses in Nimbin.


Background Information

The Nimbin Rainbow Road Walking Track is a project that aims to construct a concrete and boardwalk track over 750m long for the active community of Nimbin and its visiting tourists.

The project includes: concrete pathways, lighting, interpretive signage, way-finding signage, artwork, small bridges erected over the nearby creek system, park furniture and native plantings.

The total budget of $2.5m is fully funded under the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Package, which is co-funded by the Australian and NSW governments.

Community input

Council has consulted with property owners and key community members including some of those on the Nimbin Advisory Group. The thoughts and aspirations of what this walking track would look like and how it may best serve the community of Nimbin, and provide for a wonderful tourist attraction to those visiting the township of Nimbin have been incorporated into the concept design.

About the Concept Design

  • The majority of the walk will be on private property where pedestrians will have a right of footway.
  • The track will be maintained by Lismore City Council.
  • Interpretation signage will be discussed in the coming months, but may centre around the Nimbin locality, Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and/or the Aquarius Festival held in 1973.
  • The track will provide for a preferred route for pedestrians from Alternative Way to and from the CBD.
  • A future artwork project to involve local artists
  • Make additional improvements to the creek line flora with weed control and native plantings.

Nimbin Rainbow Road Walking Track
April 2024 Update

Lismore City Council is pleased the construction of the Nimbin Rainbow Road Walking Track is underway, with construction of the track expected to be completed in the middle of the year, followed by final art installations, landscaping and wayfinding signage, ready for opening to the public in the second half of 2024.

The Nimbin Rainbow Road Walking Track is an exciting project to construct a 750m long track, providing the community of Nimbin and its visitors with a safe, fun and active way to enjoy the beauty of the natural environment, as well as connect with cultural and artistic expressions.

The project includes formed pathways, boardwalks and bridges, providing access to natural areas and landscape views, interpretive and wayfinding signage, local artworks, park furniture and native plantings, including the addition of 5,800 new plantings, providing additional shade and natural beauty to the area, connecting Nimbin’s recreation precinct and Aquarius Way to the vibrant village.

Construction is underway, along with the installation of one of six installations by local artists, with the remainder being erected throughout the track construction phase. The artwork installations were chosen through an expression of interest process, to provide a wonderful opportunity for the community and visitors to experience local art while exploring the parklands and natural environment. Work is also progressing by chosen production designer, Ross Wallace, on the design of the visual material and signage on and off the track.

Council will post regular updates as the project progresses and highlight any information that may be relevant to you as a community member or local business.

To stay up to date, for further information on project updates, design plans, frequently asked questions, or to find out more, please visit www.yoursay.lismore.nsw.gov.au and visit the Nimbin Rainbow Road Walking Track page.

Lismore City Council wishes to thank the Nimbin Community, Community Centre, Chamber of Commerce and private landowners for making this project possible, delivering an attraction that will be enjoyed for many years to come, as well as providing benefits and opportunities for experiences and businesses in Nimbin.


Background Information

The Nimbin Rainbow Road Walking Track is a project that aims to construct a concrete and boardwalk track over 750m long for the active community of Nimbin and its visiting tourists.

The project includes: concrete pathways, lighting, interpretive signage, way-finding signage, artwork, small bridges erected over the nearby creek system, park furniture and native plantings.

The total budget of $2.5m is fully funded under the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Package, which is co-funded by the Australian and NSW governments.

Community input

Council has consulted with property owners and key community members including some of those on the Nimbin Advisory Group. The thoughts and aspirations of what this walking track would look like and how it may best serve the community of Nimbin, and provide for a wonderful tourist attraction to those visiting the township of Nimbin have been incorporated into the concept design.

About the Concept Design

  • The majority of the walk will be on private property where pedestrians will have a right of footway.
  • The track will be maintained by Lismore City Council.
  • Interpretation signage will be discussed in the coming months, but may centre around the Nimbin locality, Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and/or the Aquarius Festival held in 1973.
  • The track will provide for a preferred route for pedestrians from Alternative Way to and from the CBD.
  • A future artwork project to involve local artists
  • Make additional improvements to the creek line flora with weed control and native plantings.

  • Project Update - February 2024

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    A contractor has been chosen and site works are due to begin in March. The works will take approximately 4 months, with completion expected in June, weather permitting. The artworks have progressed to the extent where a number of them are nearing on-site construction. The artworks will be erected during the process of track construction.

  • Project Update - December 2023

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    Six artwork installations have been chosen through the Expression of Interest. These will be developed and installed by six local artists, and will provide a wonderful opportunity for the community and tourists to experience the artwork whilst exploring the park and the natural environment its set in. The wayfinding signage is also progressing with another local artist. Both artworks and wayfinding is an exciting part of the Nimbin Rainbow Walking Track project, and opening it all to the community is very much anticipated. Opening of the walking track is not expected until approximately July next year.

    There have been minor changes to CBD access for the Track following negotiations with private land owners. The silver lining for the project in this instance is a focus on extending the track towards the caravan park, taking advantage of carparking and providing a recreational link between the caravan park pool, playground, skatepark, bowling club and the walking track.

    Plans for the walking track are currently being tendered. The final costings and estimates will provide a full understanding of the extent of works.

  • Design Stage Completed

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    The Nimbin Rainbow Road Project has completed the design stage following consultation received. Consultation has brought to the table a good mix of traditional and contemporary themes and ideas that will now form the basis of the track experiences. From artwork, to park furniture and to interpretive signage. These themes and ideas include accessibility functions, security requirements, use of Traditional Owner language, appropriate access to natural areas and landscape views, interpretation of the traditional owners and Nimbin before and after Aquarius, natural area improvements and artworks of all sorts. Thank you everyone that contributed.

    These themes and ideas are being collated by a working group which have the task of sorting them into the priority projects including Artwork, Interpretive Signage and Park Furniture. The structural parts of the track will be advertised for construction in the coming months of March/April. It is anticipated construction wont start any time before July at this stage, depending upon wet weather and the availability of contractors. Completion of the full project is anticipated to be September/October this year.

Page last updated: 16 Apr 2024, 03:00 PM