Council, local MPs meet to discuss Inland Rail

Lockyer Valley Regional Council today welcomed the Inland Rail review announcement by Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King as it continues its fight to secure the best outcomes for the region.

Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor, Cr Tanya Milligan, councillors and key staff met with local MPs yesterday to once again drive home our Inland Rail concerns and hoped the review led by Dr Schott would give affected communities a better hearing.

The meeting, held yesterday at the request of Council, saw Federal Member for Wright Scott Buchholz and State Member for Lockyer Jim McDonald visit Council to discuss the significant and unnecessary impacts on our region.

Mayor Milligan took the opportunity to stress that, contrary to some suggestions, Council is not opposed to Inland Rail.

“Let’s be clear – we’re not interested in misrepresenting any numbers or running a scare campaign.

“What we want is to secure an alignment that protects and respects our community – and that can only be achieved by diverting around the township of Gatton, not coming straight through it.

“Minister King’s announcement that the review would include a focus on improved community consultation is most welcome because if affected communities had been properly consulted on the route from the start we wouldn’t be in this mess,” she said.

With the Inland Rail project forecasting an expected peak of up to 50 trains per day, including coal trains, and others up to 1.8km long through the Lockyer Valley, Mayor Milligan said the impact of Inland Rail would be extensive, with no benefits to our region.

“Few, if any other towns along the entire alignment will suffer more than the Lockyer Valley from train movements, without any corresponding benefits.

“If this project also delivered passenger rail, it would make sense to come through our towns, but it won’t, and the huge volumes and speed of freight trains should be sent around our towns.

“It is imperative ARTC get this right, and to date, it has not been forthcoming with its costings or recent studies, despite repeated requests from Council to see these crucial documents.

“It seems like ARTC are prepared to intimidate their way to their preferred, cost-saving outcomes with little regard for the wellbeing of thousands of community members who will be impacted every day for the next hundred years,” Mayor Milligan said.

Following yesterday’s meeting, Council will seek to meet with other Federal ministers to continue the fight to reduce the negative impacts on our communities.

For further information, contact Council on 1300 005 872.