THE Bethania to Logan Village rail trail has been met with enthusiasm with people calling for it to get started as soon as possible.
A public meeting about the development of the rail trail was hosted by the Friends of the Logan City Historic Recreation Trail, who hoped to use the meeting to bolster their numbers and support of the project.
Secretary Tony Sharp said the meeting on Saturday, which was one of two, was well attended with the majority supporting the walking and riding trail.
The 10 kilometre trail will be built on a disused rail spur line and is flanked mostly by natural bushland.
"The general comment was - when can we start," he said.
"We went in with the right attitude, so the positives outweigh the negatives - it's about having the conversation."
The Friends of the Logan City Historic Recreation Trail consists of a three-person committee and a handful of general members who want to see the trail made into a community asset.
They say their ideal trail would be compacted gravel, with creek crossings to save the cost of upgrading bridges along the route.
"People want to see a organic, gravel trail rather than a four-lane mega concrete corridor with large vegetation which will serve as habitat or even a corridor for wildlife," Mr Sharp said.
He said there was one resident who wanted to open up the trail to motorbikes, however residents feared it would be dangerous for walkers and families using the path.
Mr Sharp said the group had been working on the idea for the past five years and hoped by the middle of 2021 there would be something to show.
Chairperson Rob van Manen said the gravel was a simple approach which kept in line with the semi rural surroundings of the line.
The group's vision is for community and school groups to maintain sections of the route.
"A real community asset - something for the community to get behind," Mr van Manen said.
Mr Sharp said the trail was an ideal project to get behind for someone looking for something to do post COVID-19 restrictions.
"It's something solid and tangible, and they can see the results from it," he said.
"We want to get people onboard, activate the space and it will grow... the community will get involved".
The public meetings come after Logan City Council secured state funding to look at the feasibility of the 10 kilometre trail.
Council also pledged $1.25 million to the $2.5 million trail over the next two years from its 2020-2021 budget.
Plans for a rail trail from Logan Village to Yarrabilba is also in the pipeline set to be completed this year.
