Article: Regional mayors fear 'rail uncertainty'

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Regional mayors fear 'rail uncertainty'

Regional mayors fear 'rail uncertainty'

By Chrissy Arthur

Mayors from Queensland's outback will use today's local government conference in Brisbane to highlight uncertainty about regional rail networks.

Freight and livestock services on regional lines have been cancelled in recent months and Queensland Rail is also negotiating to close some freight depots between Mount Isa and Townsville.

Rick Britton from the Western Queensland Local Government Association says all councils are united in wanting a strong and viable rail network, at a conference of the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ).

"I think you'll find that it's a very unique situation and we're very united about it and it's something that we've got to push towards our bigger councils in the south-east corner," he said.

"They have trouble now in Brisbane and the south-east corner with traffic congestion, so that is going to be multiplied if those lines are taken out, so it is going to affect all local government areas in Queensland."

Mr Britton says a workshop at this morning's LGAQ conference in Brisbane will highlight the concern in bush communities.

"We are the closest to the people - we know how it can work and what is the vision - so we hope to come up with something that we can take to State Government and in partnership with AgForce and other stakeholders like meat processors," he said.

"We feel that they need to be at the table."