rainbow road

Rainbow Road is a dream long in the making, a project that has enjoyed strong community support for over 13 years. A partnership between Nimbin Community Centre Inc., Nimbin Chamber of Commerce, Lismore City Council and various government agencies, the vision is for construction of a high standard and regionally significant walking track. Stage 1 of Rainbow Road is a 1.1 km walking track built to Australian Walking Track Standards. Its outcomes aim to bolster community resilience in the wake of future disasters by facilitating increased tourism, longer stays and higher revenue opportunities for local businesses. It will provide recreational facilities for local residents while simultaneously delivering a high-quality, nature-based tourism product for the tens-of-thousands of tourists who visit Nimbin each year.

In February 2021, 11a Alternative Way, a property which surrounds a section of the Rainbow Road Walking Track, was purchased under the umbrella of Nimbin Community Centre. Its acquisition, financially supported by a consortium of Nimbin community organisations and individuals, in partnership with Rainbow Power Company, will add to the depth of the walking track experience. More information about this Aquarius Park project here.

The aftermath of the Black Summer fires (November 2019) presented grant opportunities to finally realise the Rainbow Road Walking Track. In November 2020 Diana Roberts, a founding member of NCCI and long-serving committee member, set about writing a grant for the walking track. In July 2021 Lismore Council received $2.56m funding from the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund to complete stage one of Rainbow Road.

The grant will deliver:

• 1.1km of track 2.5m meter wide in both brushed concrete and recycled plastic – dependent on location. There is funding to acquire a small portion of land from the Dept. of Housing, not essential but delivering a slightly more attractive route.
• 3 bridges – one major and two minor.
• Weed removal and regeneration of the entire track with associated bush and amenity plantings.
• An entry statement adjacent to the Hall on Cullen Street promoting the walk.
• 3 drinking water stations.
• Inobtrusive solar lighting along the path.
• Feature stone seating.
• Feature art installations.
• Park benches.
• A picnic shelter.
• A walkway arbour.
• Directional and educational signage
• A wishing well for donations
• Online promotion
• Application of a social analytics program to evaluate whether the project increases visitor length of stay

Donate
You can donate to this project here.

We acknowledge the Widjabul people of the Bundjalung Nation as the traditional custodians of this land on which we live and work.