Ministerial statement: Koalas protected in final Southern freight rail alignment

[colinw]

Ministerial statement: Koalas protected in final Southern freight rail alignment -> click here

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan

Friday, October 29, 2010

Koalas protected in final Southern freight rail alignment

A koala habitat at Ebenezer/Willowbank has been protected for the next generation following the announcement of the final alignment for the future Southern Freight Rail.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said the existence of the koala habitat in that area had been a key motivation behind the selection and final decision for the future rail alignment.

"We have listened to community feedback on the project and have taken advice from the Department of Environment and Resource Management about the significance of koala habitat in the Ebenezer/Willowbank area," Ms Nolan said.

"As a result, approximately 12 kilometres of the alignment in Ebenezer/Willowbank was relocated to avoid intersecting an area identified as high value koala habitat.

"This demonstrates the Queensland Government's leadership on koala conservation in South East Queensland and contributes to its Koala Response Strategy to halt the decline in koala numbers in the region."

Ms Nolan said the Queensland Government would now move to protect the corridor from the Western Railway near Rosewood to the interstate rail line near Kagaru, north of Beaudesert.

"This is an essential part of the government's long-term planning for South East Queensland," Ms Nolan said.

"With freight movement across the state expected to double by the year 2020, it is vital to act now to preserve the corridor for future use.

"Feedback from the community, along with technical, social and environmental investigations, has contributed to the identification of the preferred alignment," Ms Nolan said.

"Our assessment criteria for the final alignment included property impacts, engineering, ecology and community consultation.

"While it is important to protect the corridor now, a range of factors will influence any future decision on when the freight rail line will ultimately be constructed," Ms Nolan said.

Property owners were notified of potential impacts with the original release of the preferred alignment in October 2008 and fewer properties will be impacted as a result of the final alignment.

A map showing the preferred alignment in the Ebenezer/Willowbank area is available on the Department of Transport and Main Roads website www.tmr.qld.gov.au (search under Projects). Alternatively, call 1800 387 249 to request a map be sent to you.

Media contact: 3237 1111

[colinw]

Sorry, posted that in the wrong place originally.  Thanks for fixing that up.

Here's the new alignment:


Click here for a larger map of the new alignment (PDF format).

The last time I was out that way - on the Ipswich to Boonah road - quite a few anti-rail signs were visible on the fences of various properties.

cheers,
Colin