FARMERS say their ongoing opposition to the Inland Rail being routed across the Condamine River Floodplain has been vindicated following the release of a scathing Senate Committee report.
Titled 'Inland Rail: derailed from the start' the all-party Senate Committee takes aim at the Australian Rail Track Corporation's plans and approach to the construction of the project.
Millmerran Rail Group chairman and local farmer Wes Judd said ARTC must now immediately withdraw its draft Environmental Impact Statement for the NSW Border to Gowrie (B2G) section of Inland Rail.
The Australian Government also needed to direct ARTC to conduct a revised business case to include alternative routes west of Millmerran as recommended by the Senate Committee, he said.
Affected landholders are now set to meet with Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce later next week in attempt to force ARTC to adopt the report's recommendations.
"The stupidity of this plan and the arrogance of the ARTC has united politicians from the LNP, Labor and One Nation," Mr Judd said.
"Few things can unite all sides of politics, but the anger with ARTC has done it.
"It's now up to ARTC to change its flawed, condemned plans."
Mr Judd said plans to acquire land for the rail route must also be stopped.
"The Queensland Government maintains its commitment to not compulsorily acquire land for the Inland Rail route until it had been approved through an EIS process and the Queensland Government was satisfied affected landholders were genuinely consulted," Mr Judd said.
"The Senate report... stated on pages 124 to 126 that: 'The committee is of the view that the ARTC has not adequately considered the concerns of local residents regarding the chosen alignment and their proposed solutions. For this reason, the committee calls for the revised business case to direct the ARTC to consider the concerns of local residents along the B2G project, including consideration of alternative routes to the west of Millmerran'."
ARTC's approach to flood and hydrology modelling and consultation with the affected communities and landholders came under particular fire in the Senate report.
Inland Rail interim chief executive Rebecca Pickering said in a statement that ARTC noted the Senate report on the management of Inland Rail and acknowledged the contributions of the many individuals and organisations who have participated in the Inquiry over the last two years.
"The Senate Inquiry has been an opportunity to hear different perspectives about the project and share the history, rationale and detail behind the development of this important infrastructure," the statement reads.
"ARTC recognises that the issues investigated by the committee are matters of great interest for the freight and rail industry and for communities, particularly those who reside in regional and metro areas along the Inland Rail alignment.
"We have heard the call from stakeholders who expected more from our early engagement on Inland Rail and we have continued to improve as the project progressed.
"Building Inland Rail is about working together and our priority is to continue to work with landowners, key stakeholders and government through respectful engagement and consultation.
"We will ensure continued improvements are implemented as Inland Rail is designed and constructed so that Australians can access the significant jobs and economic benefits of this national infrastructure.
"ARTC continues to deliver Inland Rail on behalf of the Australian Government," the statement reads.
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