THE Turnbull government is set to ram its controversial inland rail project across the agriculturally important Condamine floodplain, setting the scene for protracted battle with Darling Downs farmers.
As reported in the Courier-Mail on Tuesday, the Palaszczuk government is set to handover ownership of sections of south west Queensland rail network in return for infrastructure funding. It is understood that funding will be spent on a proposed cross river rail project in Brisbane. The effective asset swap will help fund a new 10.2km line between Dutton Park and Bowen Hills, with 5.9km of tunnel under the Brisbane River and city centre.
It is also understood the Palaszczuk government is supportive of the inland rail using the existing Goondiwindi/Warwick/Toowoomba rail corridor.
However, the push to avoid the productive Condamine floodplain and be directed along the Warwick rail corridor or an alternative route across forestry country west of Millmerran and Cecil Plains, will need to overcome significant pressure from the government owned Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC).
Funding for the Queensland section of the inland route is expected to be announced as part of next Tuesday’s federal budget.
The actual route connecting Yelarbon, Millmerran, Brookstead and Wyreema and linking in Wellcamp airport near Toowoomba is expected to be announced at a later date.
Farmers say the construction of a 16km long rail line on top of a 2m high levy bank would have a major impact on flood flows and established infrastructure.
Cecil Plains farmer Stuart Armitage said it was clear it had always been the intention of government to build the inland rail on the base line Millmerran route, which had been championed at the expense of other viable options by the ARTC.
“That may be the best case for the inland rail builders, but a line across the Condamine floodplain is absolutely the worst case as far as agriculture is concerned,” Mr Armitage said.
“Where is the vision that is looking out 50 years. Government needs to be talking to the businesses and farmers who will be actually supplying this rail system.”
Southern Downs mayor Tracy Dobie said the existing Warwick rail corridor remained the best option.
“The Millmerran community does not want this project, the Warwick community does,” Ms Dobie said.
“Cost is one thing but there are many other considerations. The existing Warwick rail corridor is the best route.”
