THE Australian Rail Track Corporation has dismissed claims that the Inland Rail should be shifted from its current, proposed route across the Condamine River floodplain.
In a hard line response to growing anger among frustrated landholders, Inland Rail chief executive Richard Wankmuller said there was no premise to change the route based on either flood modeling or economics.
"The science tells us there is no premise to change the route based on flood modeling and the economics tells us that this route was the most viable, cost effective option," Mr Wankmuller said.
We have the utmost confidence in our flood modeling, which has been conducted, reviewed and verified separately by the countrys and Queenslands leading hydrology experts."
The comments follow a high level meeting in Sydney headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader Michael McCormack and Nationals deputy leader David Littleproud on Tuesday night.
The government is under pressure from landholders to shift the Inland Rail off the agriculturally important floodplain and onto a route largely through forest country further to the west, or to use the existing rail corridor directing the Inland Rail on route near Warwick.
Queensland Country Life has since asked ARTC to make the flood mapping available for scrutiny, showing both the modeled, potential extent of the flooding and water depths.
In a series of questions put to the inland rail builder, Queensland Country Life has also asked ARTC to state how many flood mapping anomalies it is investigating, and when the definite flood maps are expected to be completed.
The science tells us there is no premise to change the route based on flood modeling and the economics tells us that this route was the most viable, cost effective option.
- Richard Wankmuller, Inland Rail
ARTC's flood mapping is central to the finalisation of the design and costings of the construction of the 16km section of the Inland Rail across the floodplain between Millmerran and Brookstead.
Mr Wankmuller said ARTC's confidence in its flood mapping was based on that is was sourced from five expert companies.
"Those companies had confirmed the flood modeling was comprehensive, met industry standards and was fit for purpose, he said.
"We have long-acknowledged the concerns of the community, which is why we continue to incorporate their local knowledge into our model and how we design the rail line that will cross the Condamine floodplain.
"It's important governments and the community have confidence in the engineering and science that allows countries like Australia to deliver world-class infrastructure."
According to the ARTC website, the Inland Rail route will be about 1700km in length - including 1200km of enhanced and upgraded tracks and 500km of new sections via regional Victoria, NSW and Queensland.
Where possible, existing rail infrastructure will be used to minimise the environmental and community impacts associated with creating new rail corridors, the website reads.
