A plan to bring the long-idle Walka Miniature Railway back to life has taken a major step forward, with Maitland councillors unanimously supporting a call for community involvement.

At its April meeting, Mitchell Griffin successfully moved a notice of motion seeking expressions of interest from locals to form a new community group to restore and operate the miniature railway at Walka Water Works.

The railway has remained inactive since its previous operator disbanded during the COVID-19 period, leaving the popular attraction without a managing group on the Crown Land site.

Under the endorsed motion, Maitland City Council will now invite residents to help establish a new club dedicated to reviving the railway. The council has also committed to providing initial administrative and financial support to help the group get established. Once operational, the club would function independently as the railway’s operator.

Originally built in 1996, the Walka Miniature Railway runs alongside the eastern edge of Walka Lagoon, winding through native bushland for approximately 1.5 kilometres each way. The attraction was once a popular family destination, drawing generations of visitors.

Cr Griffin said the community response since the motion passed has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Since the motion passed, I’ve been overwhelmed on social media by the level of support and input from the Maitland community,” he said.

“There seems to be a large number of people interested in being involved in seeing this much-loved part of Walka back up and running again.”

He added that the railway holds strong sentimental value for many locals.

“Many residents have fond memories of taking their children and grandchildren on the train, or for those a bit younger, being taken on it themselves as a child. It really is a special part of Walka, and an important step towards restoring the wider site.”

Cr Griffin said the initiative has the potential to unite the community around a shared goal.

“This could bring people together with a common purpose — restoring and operating this railway while enjoying the natural beauty of the Walka site.”