THE Australian Rail Track Corporation (ATRC) has defended its choice of the proposed inland rail route across across the Condamine floodplain rather than using Queensland’s existing transport corridors, saying the organisation has been directed by the federal government to further a 2010 report.
The proposed route of the Queensland section of the project from Inglewood via Millmerran to Charlton, west of Toowoomba, has been brought into question because of its potential impact on arguably some of Australia’s most valuable farmland.
However, new information contained in a leaked 2015 report by consultants Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC) suggests there are at least two better, cheaper and lower impact routes. One used the existing rail corridor from Inglewood to Karara or Thane to connect Wellcamp Airport before continuing to Brisbane.
Warwick-based Southern Downs mayor Tracy Dobie said the 2010 report failed to take into consideration the “game changing” Wellcamp Airport, which was not commissioned until 2015.
“The route Inglewood-Millmerran-Toowoomba has high risk, high cost, and has a severe impact on prime agricultural land,” Cr Dobie said. “The Southern Downs Regional Council’s proposed option of Inglewood-Warwick-Toowoomba makes use of existing rail corridor and would have significant savings in land acquisition costs. A Southern Downs connection would service Wellcamp Airport and the proposed Interlink SQ. The current route via the proposed Interlink SQ fails to take into account that the Wellcamp Airport is operational and intermodal connectivity via both locations makes more sense.”
Federal Member for Maranoa, David Littleproud, said the selection of the inland rail route should be an open and transparent process. The ATRC had failed in that process to date, he said.
“People will be impacted whichever route is chosen,” Mr Littleproud said. “But what we are talking about is lifetime, nation-building infrastructure. We need to pick the best route based on price and speed and make sure the people who are impacted are treated respectfully and compensated fairly.”
Mr Littleproud said he did not have a preferred route but said Wellcamp Airport needed to be taken into consideration.
National Farmers Federation president Brent Finlay said it was crucial that the inland rail system was built.
“This is a massive $10 billion investment and we have to get it right the first time,” Mr Finlay said. “I am sure the floodplain is a major consideration but I am sure an engineered solution can be found for whatever is determined to be the best route.”
Wellcamp Airport general manager Phil Gregory said the inland rail was a critical piece of infrastructure for the region’s future.
“However, in our view, it would be a wasted opportunity if the rail line does not connect with the airport,” Mr Gregory said.
