Campbell Newman’s Liberal Democrats say Emerald to profit from the Inland Rail Gladstone extension

A Central Queensland town will become a major freight hub if the Inland Rail project is extended to Gladstone under a Liberal Democrat plan. Full details.

Liberal Democrat Queensland Lead Senate Candidate, Campbell Newman, announces extension of the Inland Rail to Gladstone.

Emerald will become a ‘freight hub’ under a Liberal Democrat plan to extend the Inland Rail track to Gladstone rather than Brisbane.

The party’s Queensland senate candidate, Campbell Newman, announced the plan to extend the track to Gladstone while in Emerald last week for a listening tour.

Mr Newman, a former premier of Queensland, met with local businesses and Central Highlands Regional Council Mayor, Kerry Hayes, to discuss how the plan would positively impact Emerald.

Mr Newman said the Liberal Democrats had listened to the community and supported the Inland Rail project terminating at Toowoomba and not continuing to Brisbane.

“Queensland farmers and exporters deserve an Inland Rail project that delivers the best outcomes,” he said.

“This decision will see both Toowoomba and Emerald become supply freight hubs.

“The opportunity to use existing infrastructure will see both regions benefit economically.”

Mr Newman pointed out Emerald’s unique economy.

“Emerald is diverse as a major centre for mining, resources, beef, grain and horticulture and this plan will allow industry to grow,” he said.

“The savings from not building the line through urban Brisbane can then be used to extend Inland Rail to the Port of Gladstone.

“The economic benefits in building Inland Rail to Gladstone are massive for Queensland.

“Much larger container ships can access the Port of Gladstone compared to Brisbane, which saves steaming time to Melbourne and Sydney.”

According to Mr Newman’s Queensland senate running mate, Tegan Grainger, the decision to extend the line to Gladstone was better than Brisbane because it would allow people in Toowoomba, Brisbane, Lockyer Valley, and the Eastern Darling Downs access to the Inland Rail without it negatively affecting their economies and land.

Tegan Grainger.

“The Eastern Darling Downs and Lockyer Valley will be supercharged by access to the Inland Rail without their highly productive and environmentally sensitive land being impacted by the new rail line,” Ms Grainger said.

“In addition, the alternative route will negate the stupendously high cost of drilling a low gradient tunnel through the Toowoomba Range.

“High value agricultural land in the Lockyer Valley is preserved, securing the economic future of local farmers.

“People in the southern suburbs of Brisbane will not have a major freight corridor carved through their community and it’s also likely that coal train traffic through Brisbane will be reduced by its diversion to Gladstone.”