Mareeba Mayor Angela Toppin and Tablelands Mayor Rod Marti attended the celebration, along with bike riders, council officers and members of the community for cake to mark the milestone.
“It is fantastic that the community will now be able to utilise the 35km rail trail from McIver Road in Mareeba to Hasties Swamp National Park, south of Atherton,” Mayor Toppin said.
“Many thanks to Department of Transport and Main Roads for their work on the rail trail, and to Tablelands Regional Council and the Cycling Advisory Committee.
“I would also like to thank the volunteers who recently planted native trees along the rail trail which will bring shade to the track and provide benefits for the environment.”
Cycling Advisory Committee Chair and TRC Deputy Mayor Dave Bilney was excited about the achievement.
“It’s fantastic to see our two regions joined by this important community asset,” he said.
“Cyclists, walkers, runners and horse riders can now experience the 35km trail from Hasties Swamp National Park south of Atherton to McIver Road in Mareeba.”
Last week, TRC also released its Atherton Tablelands Rail Trail Strategy and has invited comment from the community.
“The strategy will outline the management of the Rail Trail for the next five years and inform a range of factors including branding, points of interest, funding and the vision statement,” Cr Bilney said.
“We want to hear from all trail users about how they use the Rail Trail and suggestions they have for its future.
“You can contribute online (trc.qld.gov.au/join-conversation) and we’ll also have staff on the trail with surveys.
“We’ll go back to the community with the draft strategy around March next year, and have it finalised by the end of the financial year.”
The survey is open until Monday 6 January.
