FARMERS say they are convinced that the Inland Rail route across the Condamine River Floodplain has not been finalised, in stark contrast to a statement issued by Deputy Prime Minster Barnaby Joyce's office on Wednesday.
Millmerran Rail Group chair Wes Judd said following a meeting today with local member and Agriculture Minister David Littleproud (LNP Maranoa) it was clear the route of the Inland Rail was far from decided.
"David Littleproud told us he will not stand by and allow local farming businesses and jobs be destroyed by the Australian Rail Track Corporation and its flawed plans for Inland Rail," Mr Judd said.
"He reaffirmed his opposition to ARTC's flawed proposal to put Inland Rail on the Condamine River Floodplain near Millmerran."
Mr Judd said comments attributed to an unnamed, unelected spokesperson from Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce's office had caused enormous alarm among farming families.
"Like David Littleproud and Barnaby Joyce, these farming families know the Inland Rail alignment has not been settled," Mr Judd said.
"There is a proposed alignment in a draft environmental impact statement that everyone has problems with except ARTC, which I suspect drafted the comments for the spokesperson.
"The alignment is far from settled."
Questions are also being asked about the promised future of an extension of the Inland Rail to Gladstone.
That project squarely aimed at winning the seat of Flynn in the 2022 federal election would require the construction of a separate 670km line from near Goondiwindi, heading north through Miles and on to the Central Queensland coastal city.
"We cannot understand that they can change the route to now add in Gladstone, but cannot change the current proposal," Mr Judd said.
"By keeping the current proposal, Barnaby Joyce has snuffed out the Gladstone option."
The Federal Opposition has weighed into the debate, saying Queensland communities deserve clarity on the proposed route Inland Rail across the Condamine River Floodplain.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Catherine King, said Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce needed to urgently clarify his claim that "the Inland Rail alignment is settled - it has been refined over a number of years and delivery is well underway."
Ms King said the deputy prime minister's statement ran counter to both what communities have been told, and the findings of the Senate inquiry into the Inland Rail project.
"To sign off on a route before the environmental approvals process is complete, and after the findings of the recent senate inquiry, is simply irresponsible," Ms King said.
"It also recommended that the government commission an independent review and update of the project's business case.
"Instead of shooting from the hip, the deputy prime minister should sit down, read the report, speak to the affected communities and get this important project right."
Ms King said the Inland Rail project, and the management of environmental risks, were too important to stuff up.
"But that is exactly what the Morrison-Joyce Government is doing," she said.
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