Article: Cattle transporters press for Darr River Bridge-fix

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Cattle transporters press for Darr River Bridge-fix

Cattle transporters press for Darr River Bridge-fix
MELISSA MARTIN
16 Mar, 2012 03:00 AM

THE rail transportation of more than 3000 head of cattle a week out of the State's west and beyond has come to a standstill, with a bridge between Winton and Longreach not expected to be repaired until July.

The Darr River Bridge between Winton and Longreach collapsed in February after a ballast train derailed on it following recent flooding.

Now Winton Shire Council and processing giants JBS Australia and Teys Australia have joined forces, calling on the government and Queensland Rail to fix the bridge as a matter of urgency.

"We have a big investment in this major rail loading facility at Winton, with three trains per week moving over 3000 head per week or 90,000 head of cattle for 2012 to Rockhampton and Brisbane for processing," Winton Mayor Ed Warren said.

"Indications from Queensland Rail are that the bridge won't be fixed until July at the earliest - this will have major impacts on the producers and the Winton economy."

Mr Warren said the first cattle train for 2012 was due to leave Winton this week.

Just last year, a rail balloon loop costing in excess of $2 million was constructed at Winton to improve cattle-loading efficiencies.

"Cattle from a big area, including the Barkly Tableland, load at Winton," he said.

"The alternative now is to truck cattle to Longreach for loading, which is 180km south-east of Winton.

"They can fix these bridges a lot quicker. A similar instance happened to a bridge east of Longreach in the Alpha-Jericho area last year and they fixed it within eight weeks.

"The Winton to Longreach section does not have the same priority as the Longreach to Emerald section.

"This has been an issue for me since I became Mayor - the Winton to Longreach section of the line has lacked maintenance and capital improvement for probably 15-odd years.

"If you look at the quality of line east of Longreach and then west of Longreach, it's like chalk and cheese."

JBS Australia's director and manager corporate and regulatory affairs John Berry said JBS and Teys have both committed long-term to three services a week out of Winton.