Inland Rail

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/FutureRail_Mag/status/925739459404075008

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/DarrenChesterMP/status/926332045021691906

[ozbob]

The Chronicle --> KAP drafting legislation to try to alter Inland Rail route

KATTER Australia Party federal leader Bob Katter is in the process of drafting legislation with KAP state candidate for Condamine John Hill to change the Federal Government's proposed Inland Rail route through Millmerran, the Condamine flood plain, Pittsworth, Southbrook and onto Wellcamp.

The draft legislation will look at a new alignment which has regard for community, cost, environment, safety and operations, and Mr Katter said it will protect farms, property and livelihoods.

Once drafted, the legislation would have to be introduced to parliament and then voted on by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

But Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester has hit back at the Mr Katter's suggestion, saying the Inland Rail "must cross the Condamine flood plain to get to Toowoomba, no matter which alignment is taken."

"If Mr Katter is opposed to the preferred alignment, which has been announced, perhaps he could inform other communities which route he would prefer to take?" Mr Chester said.

Mr Katter said he'd seen this situation before and was aware of the disastrous problems.

"I, probably more than anyone else in Queensland, am aware of the disastrous problems that will be created by cutting across a watershed," he said.

"When John Hill took me to a series of meetings I knew the problems they were outlining only too well, I've had to live with it in my old State electorate, the outcomes were bad enough in my homeland, but they will be infinitely worse on these close settled farming areas.

"Our farms are 50 thousand acre pastoral holdings; whereas this line will be banking up water through closely settled and intensely cropped farmed areas. Many hundreds of farms will be destroyed.

"KAP gave a commitment to the people of Condamine that we would move in the Parliament for a re-positioning away from 'the new' government alignment."

An Australian Rail Track Corporation spokesperson took aim at Mr Katter's claims about the impacts of Inland Rail, describing them as "wrong and irresponsible".

"What Mr Katter describes is simply not going to happen.  ARTC would never propose such a design solution and a project that had such impacts would never be approved. ARTC would be happy to brief Mr. Katter at any time on Inland Rail," the spokesperson said.

"ARTC is getting on with the job of delivering Inland Rail in the Darling Downs and for Australia. 

"The Government has selected a preferred corridor between the Queensland border and Gowrie so ARTC can progress engineering solutions, further socio-economic analysis and consultation with the community.

"While it is not unusual for railways to cross floodplains we appreciate people need complete confidence in the design and based on our analysis we are confident there will be acceptable engineering solutions.

"As we progress we will share our work and get the community's feedback every step of the way. We have been very pleased with the attendance at information sessions happening at the moment which are continuing over the next month and we encourage people in the community to attend."

The KAP's legislation would set the guidelines to choose a route that achieves the operational service agreements, avoids crossing highly productive farming land, utilises brown field and less densely populated corridors and incorporates a community consultation process that includes all affected stakeholders.

Mr Chester said building a project the scale of Inland Rail "was always going to provide some challenges".

"My aim is to utilise local knowledge and the best engineering minds in Australia to construct a project that will benefit generations to come," he said.

"The Australian Rail Track Corporation is committed to finding engineering solutions to cross the Condamine that minimise the impacts and maximise the benefits of Inland Rail.

"We understand the concerns, and the ARTC has agreed to my request that work on the Condamine flood plain crossing is prioritised and that it is done with local input.

"Community Consultative Committees are being established, with nominations closing on November 24, which will ensure the input of local people and regional leaders are taken into account."

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Bitter battle brews over train line impact study

RESIDENTS of Algester, Boronia Heights, Forestdale and Hillcrest are bracing for a bitter fight to get environmental impact studies conducted on a freight train line running through their suburbs.

Battle lines were drawn last week, when residents were told official environmental impact studies had not been ordered for a section of the Inland Rail which runs through southern Logan suburbs.

Logan City councillor Laurie Smith said he was concerned the Federal Government-backed track developer, the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), had not planned environmental studies to gauge the impacts of the coal freight line.

He said it was the only Queensland section of the 1700km track not to be guaranteed an impact study under government gazettal.

"The State Government has gazetted that the ARTC will carry out environmental impact studies in the other three sections of the rail but not from Kagaru to Acacia Ridge, which has the heaviest population density," Cr Smith said. "When are they going to gazette it and why wasn't it gazetted with the rest of the track?"

Transport Minister Jackie Trad said only the ARTC could trigger the process for impact studies.

"This project is squarely with the ARTC at the moment," she said. "For the EIS process to be triggered, the ARTC has to make an application to the Coordinator-General to make the section a co-ordinated project.

"This hasn't happened yet for this section of the project, while other parts of the project have been declared after the ARTC applied to the Queensland Government. We are not satisfied with the work being undertaken on the Inland Rail project to date."

In a letter to Logan City Council this month, federal Transport Minister Darren Chester promised the ARTC would undertake a comprehensive environmental study commensurate with an impact study.

An ARTC spokesman said the would prepare and publish a detailed environmental assessment of the Kagaru to Acacia Ridge-Bromelton section of the track early next year.

"These studies, including noise and dust monitoring, will inform mitigation measures in the design," the spokesman said.

"The design will be approved by Transport and Main Roads before enhancements commence."

"ARTC was delighted to welcome more than 300 people to our community information sessions in July 2017 including council representatives and MPs who we have briefed several times over the past 18-months regarding the environmental requirements."

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/M_McCormackMP/status/936049934142283776

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/abcnews/status/939574974569857024

[tazzer9]

The ABC has said those words we are all dreading.  "Nation Building".   Inland rail is now confirmed never to be built

[red dragin]

The ABC has said those words we are all dreading.  "Nation Building".

[ozbob]

Stuff the IR, I am hanging out for the maglev to Wide Bay ... Tim?  Tim ??

[Stillwater]

It should be coupled with some economic planning about placing two new greenfields cities along the route that would act as freight hubs.  Parks will benefit enormously from this, and so will Toowoomba (Wellcamp) and probably North-East Victoria, but there is room for a couple more. 

[red dragin]

The Wagner family has guaranteed the railway going through Toowoomba when they built the airport.

Their foresight combined with the Inland rail will see freight heading up the range to be flown into South East Asia, especially as Brisbane Airport becomes busier and more expensive to use.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/RailExpressNews/status/940414497252032512

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/RailExpressNews/status/940806608061435905

[Stillwater]

Unfortunately, the cliché comment is close to the top in all references about this project.  I heard reference to 'the rail equivalent of the Snowy Mountains Scheme' in a recent late-night ABC radio report, but the one that takes the cake is the 'steel Mississippi'. 

[ozbob]

 

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Multi-billion dollar Inland Rail plan gathers momentum but there's still obstacles up the track

A CONTRACT for 14,000 tonnes of steel has been signed and, come late January, more than 100 workers will once again be buzzing about the 12th floor of the Australian Rail Track Corporation's Brisbane headquarters, united in pursuing the cause.

The Inland Rail, that century-old dream of linking Melbourne to Brisbane in 24 hours, appeared to be materialising into a reality in 2017 as a visionary, nation-building project to light a fire under eastern state economies and inject new vigour into Australia's interior.

Last October, the people tasked with bringing the project to life, ARTC, even allowed themselves a moment of self-indulgence as they celebrated the 100th anniversary of another great Australian engineering feat – the first passenger train link between Port Augusta and Perth.

That famous rail link is 1700km long, almost the exact length of the long-awaited Melbourne-Brisbane link, and it fulfilled the promise made to Western Australia at Federation in 1901 that the state would have a transport connection to the rest of the nation.

ARTC's chief executive and managing director, John Fullerton, used the anniversary to ponder the extraordinary power rail has always had to supercharge economies, boldly suggesting we Queenslanders might soon be in for a 21st century version of the historically proven economic elixir.

"One hundred years after its connection, the Trans-Australian Railway is still bringing jobs, innovation and prosperity to the desert,'' Fullerton said.

"The centenary celebrates one of our nation's great engineering achievements, and the Inland Rail is building on that foundation to complete the spine of the Australian freight network.''

Maybe it will, maybe it won't.

No one – not even the Inland Rail's most indefatigable booster, Everald Compton AM, who, in 1996, marched into the office of newly minted prime minister John Howard and put the
100-year-old idea back on the policy agenda – can be absolutely certain this nation-building project will actually reach completion.

The public has been burned too many times as politicians dust off the idea in every federal election campaign to wrap themselves in nation-building colours, only to let it slide off the radar once power is secured.

Many (by way of example) remember the "first day of work'' on the project back in the federal election campaign of 2001. Then transport minister John Anderson vigorously hammered a golden spike into the ground at the McIntyre River on the New South Wales/Queensland border and everyone called it a day for the next 16 years.

Yet there's no cure for cynicism like $8.4 billion. That was the equity investment given to the ARTC in last May's Budget, and there is no question that it has now begun to crystallise into tangible realities.

Last month, Whyalla's Liberty OneSteel was awarded the contract to supply 14,000 tonnes of steel for the first section of the project between Parkes and Narromine

That contract is worth about $5 million and is only a drop in the bucket of a project requiring about 262,000 tonnes of steel – the equivalent of about five Sydney Harbour Bridges.

Challenges surrounding the project continue to arise, though – not least in Queensland, where there are concerns about the proposed route, which was finalised late last year and follows, in large part, the path proposed by the ARTC in 2010.

It crosses prime agricultural land on the Condamine floodplain, then follows an alternative route east via Pittsworth and Brookstead, and takes in the Wagner family's Wellcamp Airport and industrial precinct outside Toowoomba.

AgForce says the track will cause flooding on some of the state's most valuable agricultural land and farmers are certain to fight the proposal in the Environment Court once the resumption notices land in their letter boxes.

In the Southern Downs, Mayor Tracy Dobie is echoing the anger of constituents, loudly pointing out that the entire project could be built far more cheaply if the ARTC simply followed an existing, state-owned rail corridor.

And late last year, the LNP's federal member for Maranoa, David Littleproud – backed by several National Party MPs – blasted the proposal following Senate Estimate hearings.

Littleproud says the ARTC has got the proposed Queensland route wrong, and his word carries significantly more weight after his recent elevation as Minister for Agriculture.

Littleproud's close colleague, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, is also the newly appointed Infrastructure Minister who has carriage of the project.

As well, the Port of Brisbane will intensify pressure for the line to connect to the port rather than ending at Acacia Ridge.

"The fact is, this project is fundamentally flawed because it stops at Acacia Ridge and does not provide dedicated freight rail access to the port of Brisbane,'' says chief executive Roy Cummins.

"That means millions of tonnes of product will still have to fight its way through Brisbane's congested passenger rail networks, which will negatively impact the livability of Brisbane's suburbs, as well as the export efficiency of our economy."

There are, of course, mutterings that the port is merely using the project as a means of gaining a magnificent piece of port-enhancing infrastructure.

But Compton, the project's "grandfather'' – who is also a genius when it comes to political fundraising and is well connected on both sides of politics – sees the port link as a sticking point.

"The public looking at this project see the whole idea of the Inland Rail as farmers shooting their produce off for export. You have to have that direct link to the port.''

His solution is to have the port railway leave the Ipswich Line at the commencement of the Logan Motorway and run beside it to its junction with the Gateway Motorway, where it would turn left and follow that motorway to the river, then follow the river to the port.

"It will barely increase the noise factor caused now by cars on both motorways,'' Compton says. "About 100 houses will have to be moved to make way for the rail corridor, with adequate compensation being given to the owners.

"This is far more practical than building a tunnel, which will be horrendously expensive and have no possibility of ever paying its way.''

John McVeigh, the federal member for Groom – the electorate that takes in Toowoomba and stretches to the east – was recently elevated to Minister for Regional Development and is caught smack bang in the middle of all these competing interests.

All the while he must be seen to be backing Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who, in a federal election that could be held this year, will hang his hard hat on a project that's now front and centre of McVeigh's new ministry.

Yet McVeigh earnestly believes that, this time, the Inland Rail is a goer.

"It was the $18 billion in the May Budget that changed things – this project is now going to happen,'' he says.

McVeigh still has a 19th century map that was once pinned to the office wall of the chairman of Clifton Shire – a man who happened to be McVeigh's grandfather.

The old map depicts the network of new rail tracks springing up across the fertile Darling Downs, creating the practical economic links that would go on to fuel the extraordinary growth of Queensland into the internationally recognised economic powerhouse it is today.

To McVeigh, that map represents something powerful – the extraordinary creative ability that humanity has to control its own destiny.

"They were looking forward way back then, planning out the future,'' he says.

"I find it exciting that, here in the 21st century, we're doing exactly the same thing."

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/lucysamuels94/status/952695749417947141

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsMelbourne/status/952801157004447744

[ozbob]

Daily Liberal --> Narromine resident Jennifer Knop launches petition to move Inland Rail route

A petition calling on the government to change the route of the Inland Rail study corridor through Narromine has attracted more than 450 signatures in three days.

There was much controversy in December when the federal government announced its preferred study corridor (about two kilometres wide in some areas), which hooks around the south-eastern edge of Narromine and takes in the "premier, small-block estates" of High Park and Villeneuve.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), which is delivering the project, must still undertake field and geotechnical investigations, environmental studies and community consultation, and prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before the final, 40-60 metre wide rail line can be determined.

High Park resident Jennifer Knop is behind the petition, and said the chosen route was "ill-considered".

Parkes MP Mark Coulton said it was too late to move the corridor, but moved to assure residents that the ARTC, which is delivering the project, would "try and get the best possible route with the least inconvenience".

A spokesperson for the ARTC has committed to meeting "with every single landowner along the 300 kilometres of the project to ensure the best possible outcome".

Mrs Knop, who has been collecting signatures at Kierath's Shopping Square, said: "We're putting this up to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet and we're asking them to review and revise their original decision and put their rail line in a more appropriate and less disruptive area, with minimal impact.

"These are all of our premier estates. These are the things that bring people into Narromine to live in a lifestyle community, with a little nucleus that is Narromine, and then these outlying quasi-villages."

She said residents within the corridor were "absolutely devastated" by the possibility of a rail line running through their property, or close enough to disturb the serenity that attracted them to the area.

She said the corridor also took in two conservation areas as well as culturally significant sites.

"One lady said 'I can't talk about it, it's too upsetting'. She was so frantic," Mrs Knop said.

"Another fellow who I met said 'I'll sign your petition'. He said 'I've got two weeks to go before I do my final payment. I've just bought into Villeneuve'.

"He said 'I bought in there so that I would have a nice environment for my children to grow up. It's a lifestyle block' ... that's the same with us – lifestyle blocks out of town, private, that's the lifestyle that people are looking for.

Up to 300 landowners are impacted by the 307 kilometre study corridor between Narromine and Narrabri.

An ARTC information session at Narromine on December 14 attracted about 250 people, many of whom were upset by the lack of consultation by the ARTC.

At the time the project team apologised for the lack of consultation, saying "it was an honest mistake" that some landowners were missed.

"The Australian government confirmed a study area for the Narromine to Narrabri section of Inland Rail so that ARTC can get on with detailed engineering and environmental studies, including cultural heritage, and consultation with the community," an ARTC spokesperson said on Wednesday.

"Over the next 18 months to two years there will be many opportunities for people to comment and make submissions as we refine the study area.

"With Inland Rail completing the freight spine, it will bring significant benefits to this region, by better connecting farmers to domestic and international markets."

Mr Coulton said he had not been satisfied with the level of consultation last year, but had "really reinforced" to the ARTC that "they need to be really engaging those people now and making sure that they're listening to their concerns and, within the confines of that corridor, trying to get the best outcome possible".

He urged concerned residents to "build a relationship with the ARTC".

"They need to ... have that discussion about the actual location of the line, but also the other issues like access over the line, fencing ... and also those concerns need to be expressed early on so a negotiated agreement can be reached," Mr Coulton said.

"The ARTC will be discussing with the people that are impacted by that corridor and my job is to make sure that is happening fairly.

"The opportunity to change the entire route, that won't be an option.

"I realise this is a difficult time, but this line will be built and it will have numerous benefits and one of those will be getting a large number of those semi-trailers off the Newell Highway and onto rail where it's much more efficient and safer."

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> $1.5m taxpayer money to be spent on a consultant's report for rail line to nowhere

IT must be nice to be a consultant sucking on the public teat in this country. We hear the State and Federal governments are preparing to spend $1.5 million on what is likely to be a completely useless consultant's report about linking the proposed Brisbane to Melbourne inland rail project to the Port of Brisbane.

You might recall that our brilliant pollies failed to provide for a dedicated rail link to the port as part of the $10 billion inland rail project, with the line ending at Acacia Ridge. We hear that one of the last acts of a hopelessly distracted Barnaby Joyce as deputy PM was to authorise a study of the port link even though the most obvious solution – a tunnel – had been on the table for years and is ready to go.

We hear Queensland Transport and Main Roads director-general Neil Scales is playing a leading role in commissioning the study, which will go out for tender shortly.

The fear is the study, which Scales wants completed in a matter of weeks, is likely to only look at the cheap option for a link using the existing, and totally unsuitable, suburban rail corridor through Park Road.

The obvious solution, supported by Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and Port of Brisbane, is a dedicated rail link to the port via a tunnel, but we hear that option may not even be included in the terms of reference. Less than 3 per cent of freight to and from the port now goes by rail because the link through the suburbs is congested and inefficient. The inland rail madness continues and taxpayers are left holding the can.

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/972333722228834304

[#Metro]

Why not run a line extension along the M2 Gateway Motorway to the port?
Freight makes money, depending on the demand, might be worthwhile.

[trail]

Why not run a line extension along the M2 Gateway Motorway to the port?
Freight makes money, depending on the demand, might be worthwhile.

Agreed. I thought there were 3 options presented:

1) Through the Park Road corridor (not ideal)
2) Tunnel from Acacia Ridge to Port Motorway (approx 17km!), with possibly vent station at Whites Hill Reserve(? midway point)
3) Tunnel from ARTC Line at Algester/Pallara/Willawong to Gateway Motorway Extension at Runcorn/Kuraby, then surface along Gateway Motorway to Port Motorway.

The third option was the one I thought they were pushing for on a cost basis - however a fair bit of push back from BCC & Adrian Schrinner from memory.

Who knows, the third option may potentially provide some sort of rail ring-road for freight to the North Coast in future.

[ozbob]

For interest, a bit of history ...

29 August 2013

Couriermail --> Rail tunnel to Port of Brisbane needed to ease increasing traffic congestion

The privately-owned Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd yesterday welcomed the Federal Coalition's commitment to building a tunnel from Acacia Ridge to the facility, as part of the Inland Rail project.

Deputy Coalition leader Warren Truss joined Queensland Transport Minister Scott Emerson to announce a Coalition Government in Canberra would spend $300 million over three years to get the decade-long project underway.

Port of Brisbane chief executive Russell Smith said they believed the delivery of a "sustainable, long-term rail freight transport solution was needed urgently to prevent worsening freight-induced traffic congestion".

He said without a dedicated freight rail solution, by 2025 more than seven million annual truck movements servicing the Port of Brisbane would be needed to sustain Queensland's population and economic growth.

"Key benefits stemming from the development of a dedicated rail freight line to service the Port of Brisbane include significant reduction in future truck related traffic congestion on southeast Queensland roads, improved road safety and community amenity, and reduced road infrastructure costs," said Mr Smith.

Australia's largest rail freight company Aurizon also backed the announcement, expressing particular interest in the proposed rail freight corridor from Rosewood west of Ipswich via Acacia Ridge to the Port of Brisbane.

Less pleased was Engineers Australia, which welcomed the investment in infrastructure but raised concerns about the timing of the announcement.

"Engineers Australia is concerned with the ongoing political approach to planning our nation's infrastructure," said Queensland president Simon Orton.

"As a mature first world country we need to move away from major infrastructure announcements that pick winners in the lead-up to an election."

Federal Labor has also pledged $300 million for Inland Rail but has not provided any detailed plans for the freight line, linking Brisbane to Melbourne.

Bryan Nye from the Australasian Railway Association said the commitment from both sides of politics to the project was a welcome step.

"The ARA has long been campaigning for this vital project so to see further progress is certainly encouraging," Mr Nye said.

"This project will take seven hours off transit times from Melbourne to Brisbane, remove trucks from the Pacific, Newell and Hume Highways and boost regional development along the entire 1700km route."

Mr Emerson highlighted the benefits the new tunnel would bring to suburbs along the route, where concerns have been raised about coal dust pollution.

But Stop Brisbane Coal Trains spokesman John Gordon said the tunnel was still a long way off, with the project not expected to be completed until 2026.

"This should not stop action being taken to cover coal trains as recommended by the Senate Inquiry into impacts of air quality on health," Mr Gordon said.

"We will not have these silly season rail promises from politicians used as leverage by government and the coal industry to do nothing about this problem."

[#Metro]

1) Through the Park Road corridor (not ideal)
2) Tunnel from Acacia Ridge to Port Motorway (approx 17km!), with possibly vent station at Whites Hill Reserve(? midway point)
3) Tunnel from ARTC Line at Algester/Pallara/Willawong to Gateway Motorway Extension at Runcorn/Kuraby, then surface along Gateway Motorway to Port Motorway.

The third option was the one I thought they were pushing for on a cost basis - however a fair bit of push back from BCC & Adrian Schrinner from memory.

Who knows, the third option may potentially provide some sort of rail ring-road for freight to the North Coast in future.

Well, the motorway is not in a tunnel so I don't see why the rail line needs to be in a tunnel when following the M2 motorway.

[ozbob]

Personally, I have little confidence left with DTMR when it involves rail matters.  Demonstrated past and ongoing incompetence and anti-rail bias in spades.

Their (DTMR) involvement probably means failure sadly in my opinion.

[ozbob]

https://ara.net.au/content/ara-welcomes-commonwealth-and-victorian-government-agreement-inland-rail

ARA welcomes Commonwealth and Victorian Government agreement to Inland Rail
2018 March 16 | 05:30pm

The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) welcomes the Commonwealth and the Victorian Government's Bilateral Agreement today in relation to the Inland Rail project.

"This is much welcomed news to the rail industry that an agreement has been reached between the Commonwealth and Victorian Government's showing their commitment to the Inland Rail project," said Danny Broad, CEO, ARA.

"In Victoria alone the Inland Rail project will create 2,800 jobs at its peak and will reduce the transit time between Melbourne and Brisbane to under 24 hours carrying for the first time double-stacked, 1800m trains from Melbourne to Brisbane.

"The rail industry eagerly anticipates construction commencing this year so we can realise the benefits for the supply chain.

"Industry backs the route that has been determined, backed up by detailed studies and community engagement and we are committed to next steps.

"It's the best balance between economic, community and environmental considerations.

"Inland Rail meets the requirements of the logistics industry's supply chain demands for a road competitive freight link between Melbourne and Brisbane in under 24 hours.

"The ARA recognises and supports the ARTC's efforts to work with landowners and communities along the alignment to deliver the Project.

"We are committed to the Inland Rail Project and are working with the Australian Logistics Council, with support from the ARTC and Parkes Shire in delivering the Inland Rail Conference on 18 and 19 July," Danny Broad concluded.

[Stillwater]

From Port of Brisbane CEO, Russell Smith:

Annual freight volumes across Queensland, according to the State Government's 2013 Moving Freight Strategy, are forecast to increase by 76 per cent from 881 million tonnes in 2009 –10 to 1550 million tonnes by 2021. in south east Queensland, around 95 per cent of container freight accessing the Port of Brisbane is transported by road, generating over three million truck movements to the Port each year.

Over 40 per cent of trade currently handled by the Port of Brisbane originates from regions in the corridor from the Port to west of Toowoomba.

[Golliwog]

From Port of Brisbane CEO, Russell Smith:

Annual freight volumes across Queensland, according to the State Government's 2013 Moving Freight Strategy, are forecast to increase by 76 per cent from 881 million tonnes in 2009 –10 to 1550 million tonnes by 2021. in south east Queensland, around 95 per cent of container freight accessing the Port of Brisbane is transported by road, generating over three million truck movements to the Port each year.

Over 40 per cent of trade currently handled by the Port of Brisbane originates from regions in the corridor from the Port to west of Toowoomba.

There's a bunch that travel via B-Double / A-Double movements from PoB to the Acacia Ridge area - if that's your final destination is rail very efficient? Obviously those B and A movements can also come down the range from Toowoomba too.

[ozbob]

Railway Gazette --> Port of Brisbane rail link study announced

The Queensland and federal governments have agreed to jointly fund a A$1·5m independent study into improving rail freight connections between Acacia Ridge and the Port of Brisbane. This could include the construction of a dedicated freight line.

To be completed in the next 12 months, the study will take into account current and future demand for rail freight to and from the port, existing infrastructure capacity and the potential impact of the Cross River Rail project and other schemes to improve passenger services.

An Infrastructure Australia report released last year said a dedicated rail freight link to the port was a high priority, and savings of A$66m could be realised if the governments acted quickly to protect the corridor.

'Significant analysis was undertaken as part of the 2015 Inland Rail Business Case which found the existing line could continue to serve the port until 2030', said federal Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure & Transport Michael McCormack on April 3. 'The new joint study will now assess a range of immediate and long-term options to ensure freight continues to move efficiently.'

The Australian Logistics Council and the Australian Railway Association welcomed the announcement, saying a dedicated line would be 'critical to unlocking the full economic benefits of the Inland Rail project'.

[red dragin]

The standard gauge track hasn't been used for a long time, is that correct?

If only they'd planned to build a commuter railway tunnel to Yeerongpilly, which could have freed up the dual gauge track for paths from Acacia Ridge to the Port of Brisbane.

[ozbob]

Queensland Times -->Your say wanted as nation's $8.4b project rolls into Ipswich

PUBLIC information sessions will be held for Ipswich residents to learn about the "once-in-a-generation" infrastructure project slated to be built in the region.

At an estimated cost of $8.4 billion, the Inland Rail Project will connect regional Australia to domestic and international markets, transforming the way freight is moved around the country.

The Helidon-to-Calvert and Calvert-to-Kagaru sections of the project both run through Ipswich.

About $1 billion will be injected into the Helidon to Calvert section to accommodate double-stack freight trains up to 1.8km long.

Work will involve building a tunnel, rail infrastructure and create 1800 jobs during the construction period.

About $1.2 billion will be invested to upgrade the Calvert to Kagaru section.

The Ipswich City Council has thrown its initial support behind the project.

About 1200km of the existing rail corridor will be used and about 500km of new track will be built.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation is holding community consultations to inform development of the feasibility designs and environmental impact statements for sections of the project.

Community members and businesses are invited to attend the consultation sessions.

An information event will be held at Grandchester Community Hall on May 16 from 9am to noon.

Another will be held at the Rosewood Bowls Club on May 31 from 4pm to 7pm.

On June 9, from 9am to noon, the consultation event will be held at Peak Crossing Hall.

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Inland Rail project: Concern from Algester, Parkinson, Acacia Ridge residents

RESIDENTS at Algester, Parkinson and Acacia Ridge are calling on government leaders to ensure the controversial Inland Rail project doesn't derail the community.

Double-stacked freight trains as long as 1800m — the length of 18 football fields — will pass along the existing track between Kagaru and Acacia Ridge, running past homes, business, parks and schools. The amount of freight trains using this route will increase by at least five times from eight to more than 40 a day with coal earmarked as one of the main resources to be transported along the line.

State Member for Algester Leeanne Enoch has written to the Australian Rail Track Corporation to create a community consultative committee to give locals a chance to have their say and stay updated on the Federal Government $9.3 billion project.

Committees have been set up in other communities impacted by the 1700km route, which will link Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, and Ms Enoch believes southsiders should be given the same right.

Concerned Algester resident Mallory Wuthrich says the community must unite on the issue and better understand the implications of such a major ­project on their doorstep.

Algester local calls for ARTC consultation

AN Algester parent is begging for community support, claiming the Inland Rail project will ruin the landscape of the southside.

Father-of-two Mallory Wuthrich is trying to "rally the troops" in the hope it is not too late to have the community's voice heard by the State and Federal Government and the Australian Rail Track Corporation.

Mr Wuthrich said the coal dust was the main concern for him and his family, not so much the noise of the trains.

A fear that was also felt by many locals living near Col Bennett Park, which is opposite Algester State School.

"We live about 1km away from the track and currently we don't hear the freight trains but having done a lot of research on other areas that have had an increase in coal-based rail ... the results make you nervous as a parent," Mr Wuthrich said.

"And the thing that really concerns me is that many Algester residents are not fully aware of the potential implications of the Inland Rail.

"I don't think there has been anywhere near enough consultation from the State Government or the ARTC, and I certainly don't think there has been a lot of credence given to any consideration for the communities there and the long-term impacts.

"I really don't think many people are that well informed.

"It seems to me that people are not fully aware of the potential health risks here."

The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection states: Air quality has the potential to be impacted by the coal dust emissions from transporting coal.

"Air quality monitoring and reported observations have shown that coal dust is emitted from coal trains during transit and from coal terminal stockpiles. Impacts are generally limited to those locations in proximity to railways and coal loading terminals."

An Australian Rail Track Corporation spokeswoman said ARTC and the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) were working together to ensure "the best rail transport solution".

"This is an existing operational rail corridor and Acacia Ridge has been a longstanding, nationally-significant intermodal terminal in operation for decades," the spokeswoman said.

"ARTC is committed to meeting all of its planning and environmental legislative requirements.

"We will progress studies on noise, vibration and dust monitoring, ecology, water quality, soils and geology, transport, social and socio-economic factors and land use. They will help us understand the impacts of the planned enhancements and inform mitigation measures to be incorporated into the design."

The ARTC spokeswoman said: "As with all 13 projects along the Inland Rail corridor, community consultation is a vital part of our studies. We are focused on building the best possible rail line and input from the community is an important part of that.

"The Inland Rail website is also an up-to-date source of information on consultation activities.

We encourage people to register via the website to receive updates or contact Inland Rail's team to talk through any questions, concerns or queries.

"The website address is inlandrail.artc.com.au and the team can be contacted on 1800 732 761 or by email inlandrailqld@artc.com.au."

Community committee a vital link

State Member for Algester Leeanne Enoch has urged Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) CEO John Fullerton to establish Inland Rail consultation groups at Algester, Logan and Jordan.

Ms Enoch said residents at Algester (including Parkinson, Acacia Ridge), Logan and Jordan electorates were being left out of the conversation when it came to Inland Rail.

"The Palaszczuk Government is very conscious of the community's concerns that they are being left in the dark on this project," she said.

"As part of my discussions, I have made it very clear that it is of upmost importance to our community that the impact of increased dust, noise and the frequency of train movements is a priority for local residents.

"However, because the ARTC has neglected to establish a community consultative committee in the last leg of the proposed Inland Rail Project, these residents don't have access to reliable and current information."

Ms Enoch said if the committee was established it would be open to all members of the public and was particularly suitable for community leaders.

"If you would like to be a part of this committee or know someone suitable, please contact your local MP's office," she said.

Politicians voice their view on the rail project

The three tiers of government in the area have had their say on the Inland Rail project. These are their views.

Councillor for Moorooka Ward Steve Griffiths said: "While I support the need for an inland rail line, it is unacceptable that the line finishes at Acacia Ridge and does not connect to the Port of Brisbane.

"Goods will need to be off-loaded at Acacia Ridge and transported by heavy vehicles to the Port of Brisbane. "Already, southside roads are congested with the impacts felt by businesses and residents alike.

State Member for Stretton Duncan Pegg said: "Southside locals have massive concerns about this project, and so do I.

"So far locals have been completely kept in the dark. That better change quickly, because one thing I know about southside locals is that they don't take kindly to being treated that way."

Federal Member for Rankin Jim Chalmers: "Locals absolutely deserve to know what's happening with this project and how it affects them.

"The Turnbull Government needs to explain why there's been such a lack of transparency on its watch and why locals haven't been able to have a sufficient say.

"Unlike the Turnbull Government, Federal Labor will stick up for our local community and raise our community's concerns in Senate estimates this week."

Federal Member for Moreton Graham Perrett said: "Southside residents deserve to know how this essential part of the rail project that will affect them is going to be implemented. There is no doubt that residents will be significantly impacted.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/999326834268385280

Queensland Times -->  Mayor under fire over intervention

TOOWOOMBA Mayor Paul Antonio is fighting a misconduct allegation over his dealings with the Inland Rail project.

The allegation has been referred to the Department of Local Government's Regional Conduct Review Panel.

The Chronicle can reveal a complaint of corrupt conduct was first made against Cr Antonio on September 24 last year.

It followed an interview with the ABC in which the Toowoomba mayor admitted he paid for the design of an alternative Inland Rail route that ran along the border of his Captains Mountain quarry, and gave copies of the route to Groom MP Dr John McVeigh and Queensland Resources Council CEO Ian Macfarlane.   

The Crime and Corruption Commission did a preliminary assessment of the complaint, which alleged Cr Antonio had "used his position to influence an outcome so as to obtain a personal benefit" and found there to be "insufficient evidence to raise suspicion" of corrupt conduct.   

A CCC spokesman confirmed the watchdog had referred the matter to the Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs. 

Cr Antonio said he was aware of the complaint and was yet to be summoned before the panel. 

He said he was "absolutely" defending himself against the allegation of misconduct.   

In the interview that gave rise to the complaint, Cr Antonio, who owns a quarry in Captains Mountain near Millmerran, said he paid $4900 to have engineers investigate an alternative route for the Inland Rail line that ran adjacent to his land. 

Basalt from the quarry could be used to supply ballast for the railway line as it crosses the Condamine flood plain.   

At the time, Cr Antonio said profits from the quarry did not depend on the route running near his property, arguing that regardless of where the rail line went, the basalt on his hill and others in the area would be used.   

After first telling the ABC he gave the map to Millmerran farmer Russell Stevens, he relented under questioning and admitted he gave it to Groom MP Dr John McVeigh and former Federal Minister for Industry Ian Macfarlane.   

The day after the interview aired, Cr Antonio reiterated to The Chronicle he acted out of concern for established farming families. 

"Yes, I paid for it, and I did so because of the highly productive farming land that's important for the local economy."

A spokesperson for the Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural affairs said the department "does not comment on matters that may or may not be under investigation". 

A serious rift emerged between Cr Bill Cahill and Cr Antonio in the wake of the latter's interview with the ABC, according to emails obtained by The Chronicle through the Right to Information Act.

The emails show that two days after the interview went to air, Cr Antonio requested a meeting with councillors for Monday, September 25, 2017.

Council CEO Brian Pidgeon said the meeting was "to discuss the background and implications relating to this matter".

Cr Cahill followed up with an email on Sunday, September 24, expressing his concerns about the mayor's involvement in the meeting.

"I wish to state again my objection to the mayor's involvement in this meeting. Particularly given his public admission in a national interview about his secretive dealings with the matter," Cr Cahill said.

"I will say again as I have said to the deputy mayor that when there are allegations involving the mayor I believe you as the CEO, according to the Local Government Act, should be calling the meeting."

Cr Cahill said he contacted his fellow councillors the previous day to discuss the issue, and that he and three other councillors wished to discuss "the implications to council and what we can do to try and protect council's reputation".

In response to Cr Cahill's email, Mr Pidgeon later that day said he was aware or his obligations under the Local Government Act and that he had "no obligation under the Local Government Act to call a meeting with councillors to discuss actions taken by the mayor".

Mr Pidgeon said he had advised the mayor some councillors were seeking a meeting on the matter and the mayor had agreed to meet.

"The mayor has expressed a desire to state his position in relation to this matter. He is free to take an alternate position and say nothing more to councillors. The mayor and councillors have no obligation to ask or answer any questions," Mr Pidgeon said.

"I also am happy to participate in a separate meeting specifically on managing council's reputation if that is councillors' desire.

"If, at any time, I receive a complaint or form an opinion that I have an obligation to make a complaint to the Director General based on any information I know now or in the future I will fully exercise my responsibilities under the Local Government Act."

That prompted another reply from Cr Cahill on the Monday morning, who said he was concerned Mr Pidgeon's view was that the matter did not require external investigation.

By the time Cr Cahill's email landed in Mr Pidgeon's inbox, a member of the public had already made a complaint to the council, which Mr Pidgeon confidentially forwarded to the CCC for assessment on the Monday.

Cr Cahill argued not referring the matter for external investigation set a new, lower standard of integrity for councillors.

"The new standard, as clearly evidenced by what I believe was an extremely damaging national interview given by the mayor, is that Toowoomba Regional Councillors are only required to tell the truth on matters of interest to the public if the person asking the questions is able to provide evidence that is contrary to the initial 'truth' that has been told by the councillor.

"If this is the case, and it certainly appears that it is, the ratepayers need to be made fully aware that under this new standard, honesty in reporting is completely subject to what other facts to the contrary may be known by the questioner."

Mr Pidgeon replied to Cr Cahill's email three days later, on September 28.

"In your email below you are making your own assumptions and drawing your own conclusions on this matter and on how future potential complaints involving councillors will be dealt with," he wrote.

"As I have previously stated, I am fully aware of my obligations. I have no obligation to disclose to any councillor whether I have received a complaint/s or my decisions or proposed actions now or at any point in time in relation to a complaint about another councillor."

[verbatim9]

Is it possible to change to an electric locomotive from the proposed interchange near Wagner's Airport Toowoomba? It would calm alot of residents down being electric hauled from Toowoomba to Port of Brisbane. Especially with the Noise and Local Air Pollution concerns. There is a small push towards electric haul freight but should be more in this day and age. The technology is there and the price of Electricity is coming down thanks to locally sourced renewables. (Wind and Solar)  (Soon incinerated Rubbish). - Very low impact these days.

[SurfRail]

It unnecessarily increases the handling costs, and for that matter electrification is only justified at certain volumes due to the infrastructure spend.  This stuff has to largely pay for itself, in a much more substantial way than passenger infrastructure.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane residents along Inland Rail route furious at lack of environmental testing

RESIDENTS in Brisbane's south are furious that a key section of the proposed $10 billion Inland Rail will avoid rigorous environmental testing because freight trains will use existing tracks.

Suz Corbett, head of the Inland Rail Action Group, which has more than 600 members, said up to 50,000 residents lived within a few kilometres of the track from Kagaru to Acacia Ridge.

She said there were growing fears about the environmental impact from scores of extra freight and coal trains projected on the track each week from as early as 2024.

The track section is part of the existing interstate rail corridor to Sydney and is leased from the state government by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), which is managing the Inland Rail project.

Ms Corbett said ARTC should be required to provide a full environmental impact statement as they were projecting up to 120 uncovered coal trains and double-stacked freight trains up to 3.6km long could rumble through the suburbs each week.

She said constant noise from the trains would be intolerable and residents were fearful about the increased levels of diesel fumes, coal dust and chemicals in their suburbs.

Ms Corbett, who wants the route to bypass Brisbane and link up with the port in Gladstone, said the ARTC had only committed to less rigorous "environmental investigations".

"We'd be lucky if we got an independent EIS, but if they do a proper, independent one it will highlight all the flaws with bringing the trains through on this high density route," she said.

An ARTC spokeswoman project was an "enhancement" of the existing operational interstate rail corridor and the proposed works were minimal.

"We are working with Transport and Main Roads to ensure appropriate planning, environmental and engineering assessments, and consultation activities are in place," she said.

She said ARTC would create an environmental assessment report with similar technical investigations and environmental studies to an EIS, including noise, vibration and dust monitoring.

A Transport and Main Roads spokesman said they were working with ARTC to ensure stringent environmental and social obligations on that route were met but they had no control over train numbers.

"While the Inland Rail project is an Australian government initiative with the ARTC responsible for the delivery of the rail freight line, the Queensland government is committed to protecting the interests of the state and the people who live here," he said.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1012747886923149313

[ozbob]

Rail Express --> Preferred bidder named to build Parkes-Narromine section of Inland Rail

INLink has been declared the preferred construction contractor for the Inland Rail project's Parkes to Narromine section, where major works are to begin later this year.

When signed, the contract with INLink, a joint venture between BMD Constructions and Fulton Hogan, will be the first for construction on the project.

Inland Rail CEO Richard Wankmuller said there would be further opportunities for regional companies and businesses to work on the Parkes-Narromine section, with INLink now looking towards finding suppliers.

"With early works on Inland Rail now well under way, residents and local businesses will increasingly see the flow-on benefits, including jobs and new investment opportunities," Wankmuller said.

"INLink will be putting together their environmental management plans and applying for their Environmental Protection Licence to lay the foundations for major construction."

The 106-kilometre Parkes to Narromine section is to utilise existing ARTC operated track. It will undergo extensive upgrades, including the replacement of bridges and culverts, enhanced level-crossings and three new crossing loops at Goonumbla, Peak Hill, and Timjelly. A new 5-kilometre long connection to the Broken Hill line west of Parkes is also to be constructed.

There are also to be ancillary works for the flood immunity of the line, along with improvements to stormwater and drainage, and upgrades to existing fencing of the rail corridor.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) will be awarding further contracts for the project over the coming months in the lead-up to construction on the section.

Regular delivery of concrete sleepers to Peak Hill from Braema, Mittagong, has been under way for some time. 200,000 will eventually be produced by local business Rocla.

"Construction materials have already started being delivered with materials arriving from all over Australia and NSW," Wankmuller said.

"6534 tonnes of Whyalla steel rail have already been delivered and the first of 200,000 concrete sleepers have arrived in Parkes from Mittagong in the Southern Highlands."

Community sessions are to be held in the Parkes region over the coming months, where landowners, business owners and local residents will be able to receive information about the project and provide their input to the ARTC.

"We're operating in and are a part of these communities," Wankmuller said.

"ARTC has long held a provisioning office in Parkes to maintain the interstate rail network and we're to open our Inland Rail shopfront there soon."

[ozbob]

The Observer --> Council joins calls for inland rail extension to Gladstone

WHEN Glenn Churchill is settling down at a retirement village in Gladstone one day, he wants to be able to see the inland rail from Melbourne travelling into the Port City.

The councillor, at yesterday's Gladstone Regional Council meeting, declared his hopes for the $8.4billion national infrastructure project to be extended to Gladstone.

His motion was for the council to team up with others in Central Queensland to complete a business case into the benefits of connecting Gladstone to Melbourne via freight rail.

The motion was part of an endorsement for councillor Rick Hansen to attend a two-day inland rail conference in New South Wales, which starts today.

It is not the first time the extension to the Port City has been touted.

The results of a Federal Government $250,000 feasibility study into extending the Melbourne to Brisbane rail infrastructure are believed to be with the Department of Infrastructure and Transport, but they are yet to be publicly released.

Cr Churchill said while the council was endorsing Cr Hansen's trip, it should also start a business case and write letters to State and Federal Government leaders and Opposition leaders for support.

"We need to have a strong voice in Canberra," he said.

His comments came days before the pre-selection process for the next Liberal National Party candidate for Flynn begins, where he is believed to be the only challenger for incumbent member Ken O'Dowd.

The result is expected to be known by Sunday.

Cr Churchill received some raised eyebrows and smiles from other councillors when he said the project would benefit the entire Flynn electorate.

Gladstone Ports Corporation also supports an extension of the inland rail, with the chief executive publicly saying it was a "fantastic idea" that would benefit the broader Central Queensland region.

Chief executive Peter O'Sullivan has previously told The Observer connecting Melbourne to Gladstone would benefit international markets too, making exporting to Asia cheaper and faster via Gladstone.

Deputy Mayor Chris Trevor pointed to Glencore's major mining lease at Wandoan as another reason for Gladstone to be connected to the southern cities.

"If coal deposits in Wandoan proceed, it'll make the Bowen Basin look like a blimp on the radar," Cr Trevor said.

Member for Flynn Ken O'Dowd said the proposal of extending the inland rail from Gowrie Junction to Central Queensland was an "enormous" project and had been in talks for many years.

[ozbob]

Queensland lags as Inland Rail ramps up in south

By Liz Wells, 24 July 2018

Australia's first Inland Rail Conference was held in Parkes last week, and outlined developments in New South Wales and Victoria, but lamented the continued absence of an Inter-Government Agreement with Queensland which is hindering planning for the northern end of the 1700-kilometre Inland Rail project.

https://www.graincentral.com/markets/queensland-lags-as-inland-rail-ramps-up-in-south/