The long-awaited $2.5 million Nimbin Rainbow Walk was officially opened yesterday near the newly constructed gazebo and sculptures by Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan, Mayor of Lismore Steve Krieg, Councillor Virginia Waters and Diana Roberts from the Nimbin Chamber of Commerce, who cut the ribbon.

Diana said the Nimbin Rainbow Walk project came from the community in 2010.

"There have been two funding rounds to do the whole sort of conceptual planning. The community centre itself applied for grants unsuccessfully, and then, as Kevin said, after the bushfires, we got an incredible opportunity, and out of a disaster came this."

Diana was referring to the 2019 bushfires that swept through Nimbin and into the Nightcap National Park.

"What went from a $900,000 community-managed project became a $2.54 million project that was actually funded in full. And I'd really like to acknowledge Business New South Wales, Destination North Coast, and also the funding body and the bureaucrats in that organisation who encouraged us to apply. I probably wouldn't have done it otherwise.

"It took almost three months of my life, and I'd like to acknowledge the contribution that people like Wil Polson and Kitty van Vuuren made to updating a business plan and I wrote the grant.

"And here we are. I think to me personally, it's probably the biggest legacy that I will leave Nimbin and I'm really proud of it."

Local resident and Lismore City Councillor Virginia Waters also thanked those involved and praised the outcome.

"It's just so fantastic. This is now going to be Nimbin's green park space in town, and it's just so wonderful to see. I'm actually part of the Aquarius Landcare group, and it's great to start seeing what's happening and all the support that we've had from the community to get this going, but also from, of course, all levels of government who have come along and got on board and really supported it.

"We really have a beautiful asset here for not only the community but for all visitors that are coming to Nimbin."

Mayor Steve Krieg thanked both the state and federal governments

"On behalf of Lismore City Council, the residents of Nimbin and also, the multitude of visitors to Nimbin that are bound to use this walk, we are very grateful to the state and federal government for supplying the funds to what really is just an absolutely walkway through one of the most beautiful towns in Australia."

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin couldn't physically be at yesterday's opening; however, she did make a speech in parliament that was read by her representative, Lee Duncan. This is part of it.

"This weekend, Nimbin is about to become even more colourful with the grand opening of the Nimbin Rainbow Walk. That's the community opening. I can say the Nimbin Rainbow Walk is a 750-metre track with a boardwalk and concrete sections that link the CBD to the new Aquarius Park.

"The track incorporates artworks and interpretive signage and was constructed by Lismore City Council with $2.5 million of New South Wales and federal government funding as a bushfire local economic recovery package grant. I congratulate the Nimbin Community Centre Committee, which, through its reserves and 30 generous donations, purchased private land, key to enhancing the precinct."

Ms Saffin said she walked the muddy track in 2021 when the project funding was announced; however, the floods of 2022 stalled the project.

Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said this was always an exciting project on paper.

"It looked great. The visuals look great. And I think it's one of those things that looks better in the flesh. It looks better as the physical asset that it is."

Mr Hogan talked about the project being good for locals but also for tourists who visit one of Lismore's key tourist destinations.

(The gazebo with a tiled wall painted by students)

"It was always said this will help the tourist experience in Nimbin, and I think that's really important. Look, I'm Shadow Tourism Minister and one of the brands, and we have to keep reminding ourselves of this, and I think we take it for granted because it's in our neighbourhood, Nimbin is one of the most tourism-identified brands in Australia.

"If you ask people what they know, or what place they've heard of in Australia, Nimbin is on the list. That's pretty high. Obviously, you get the capital cities and stuff, but Nimbin is on most people's list. So I think, and I don't mean this as a dirty word either, I think Nimbin is a brand, a place that we should leverage more for Nimbin, for more tourism, for more visitors, and for them to experience the beautiful place this is, the sacred place this is and the special place that his has in our hearts.

As you walk along the 750 metres surrounded by bushland, you can read the many signs outlining Nimbin's history; you will follow painted footpath artwork, including one with hopscotch surrounded by native animals, sandstone blocks, a magnificent gazebo with a tiled wall painted by students and two sculptures.

Artist Greg Bowering was putting the final touches to the sculptures yesterday. Greg said the dark (stained) sculpture was carved out of conversations with Indigenous elders about a spirit called Nymbinji, while the other represented animals and flora and fauna that are endangered in the Nightcap Park region.

"There's different things like the spotted quoll, the Nightcap oak, the flowers of the peach myrtle, but they're oversized so you can see them as they are tiny flowers normally, the minion quandong, Stephen's banded snake, there's a red-legged pademelon at the bottom," Greg explained.

(Greg Bowering putting the finishing touches to his two sculptures on the Nimbin Rainbow Walk)

"The carpet python is not itself endangered, but its habitat is. I like them, so I put one of them in."

When it came to the second totem pole, Greg discussed what would be appropriate with Oral Roberts and Oral Laurie.

"They came up with the idea of doing a Nymbinji sitting cross-legged on the top of the pole. The Nymbinji is like a clever man spirit of the area, and it's what Nimbin is named after. You could say he is a little bit like a leprechaun for the Irish.

"The Nymbinji is a bit of a trickster. Apparently, there's lots of them, little guys. Some of them have yellow eyes, some have red eyes. The red eye ones are a bit dodgy, a bit naughty. You've got to watch those guys; they'll play tricks on you. They'll also lead the kids astray if you're not careful, they might play tricks on them or teach them bad things.

(The Nymbinji sitting on the top of the totem pole with water creatures underneath)

But you also call on the Nymbinji when you need help. That's how it was explained to me. And so the Nymbinji is here to help, but he's not all good."

For the Nimbin community, there is a grand opening this Sunday (March 23) at 10am.

Apparently, there is a Stage 2 and Stage 3 to complete a looped pathway to Cullen Street, but difficulties have arisen.

Diana Roberts said, "There is a stage two, and there's a stage three, but quite frankly, I doubt we'll ever do stage two. So it came from Cullen Street, down the bank, across the creek, and there were a few obstacles, but we won't go into those. I think we're more likely to see what would be a stage two going out through the property I own, up to High Street, out to the rocks, but I don't think it'll be in my lifetime."

For now, locals and visitors can enjoy the new Nimbin Rainbow Walk.