PUBLIC comment on the draft environmental impact statement for the NSW border to Gowrie section of the Inland Rail, including the controversial Condamine River floodplain, has been extended until May 4.
Millmerran Rail Group chairman Wes Judd said comment on the draft EIS had been due to close on April 19.
"We understand the decision follows a request by the federal government to the Queensland Coordinator-General to shift the deadline back for public comment," Mr Judd said.
"Independent experts uncovered major flaws and omissions in the Australian Rail Track Corporation's flood modelling for its proposed route over the Condamine River floodplain.
"It vindicates what affected landholders and residents have been saying for years: This route is wrong. It won't work."
It vindicates what affected landholders and residents have been saying for years: This route is wrong. It won't work.
- Wes Judd, Millmerran Rail Group
Mr Judd said the Australian government had also been forced to admit the planned route will cost more to build then previously budgeted.
"Frankly the management of Inland Rail makes the COVID vaccine roll-out look competent," Mr Judd said.
Mr Judd said ARTC's draft EIS should be withdrawn and replaced with a new draft examining an alternative route west of Millmerran.
"There are still so many errors and unknowns," Mr Judd said.
"The Australian government should wait for the Senate inquiry into Inland Rail, which is due to report on May 13, and the final report of the Independent International Panel of Experts for Flood Studies due at the end of the year," Mr Judd said.
ARTC director Planning, Communications and Stakeholder relations, Rebecca Pickering, welcomed the extension of time for public submissions.
"It is my understanding that the Office of the Coordinator General has taken into consideration recent events during the public submission period including recent weather events in the Macintyre and Condamine regions; disruptions resulting from the detection of COVID-19 in Queensland and the Easter holiday period when making a decision to extend the consultation period," Ms Pickering said.
"These unforeseen events may have limited the opportunities for individuals and communities to come together to discuss and prepare submissions on the EIS.
"This extension will also give those preparing EIS submissions further time to review the Independent Flood Panel draft report for the Border to Gowrie Project."
Ms Pickering said the panel's review built on and acknowledged the substantial amount of work undertaken by ARTC and other world-leading experts to construct Inland Rail in a way that was safe and suited to its environment.
"Among the findings of the draft report, the panel has found that ARTC's work predominantly meets Australian guidelines and industry best practice," she said.
"The panel also makes it clear that the findings are as expected for a significant infrastructure project, such as Inland Rail, and are normal for a project of this nature at this time in its development.
"This is an excellent time to have had this input from the panel to assist in the refinement of the flood modelling as we progress the designs for Inland Rail and consult with communities."
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