ALP pledge to investigate Inland Rail on track for community forum

Anthony Albanese’s pledge to investigate the Inland Rail project has given heart to concerned residents living along the proposed track in southeast Queensland.

A LABOR Party pledge to investigate the Inland Rail project has given heart to concerned residents living along the proposed track in southeast Queensland.

ALP Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese said an inquiry into the $10billion Coalition project was necessary as there had not been adequate consultation.

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“It is very clear that the government has failed to consult properly,” he told radio host Alan Jones on Tuesday.

“It’s very clear that there are real issues with the route going through prime agricultural land, that the locals aren’t being listened to.”

Forestdale resident Suz Corbett said she would raise the ALP plan at next month’s Kagaru to Acacia Ridge and Bromelton Community Consultative Committee meeting.

Shadow Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese with CEO of the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) John Fullerton.

She said residents were pleased the ALP had listened to the concerns of farmers.

“But we don’t get a mention though — only the farmers,” she said.

“I wrote to Alan Jones and pointed out that there are 50,000-plus residents on the Kagaru to Acacia Ridge route who will be directly impacted.

“And that number is increasing quickly.”

Mrs Corbett said she was also concerned the agenda for the May meeting “falsely” named where “passing loops” on the track would be located.

Residents protesting the proposed route through Flagstone welcomed the ALP pledge to investigate the rail plan.

She said Flagstone was being referred to as Kagaru and Forestdale/Hillcrest was being referred to as Larapinta.

Mrs Corbett said there were also questions about extending the Greenbank and Bromelton overpassing loops.

“ARTC are stating the passing loop is at Larapinta when in fact it is at Forestdale/Hillcrest,” Mrs Corbett said.

“We have pointed this out to them so we perceive these ‘oversights’ could be due to less populated areas … whereas Flagstone, Hillcrest/Flagstone are densely populated.”

Project manager Kerrin Roberts told Logan City Council the project in the southeast would include two new passing loops, extensions to two existing passing loops and five places where the track would be lowered.

Logan resident Leisa Dobson, whose back yard fronts the existing line which could be later used for coal trains.

Ms Roberts said the track would be lowered at bridges at Beaudesert Rd, Learoyd Rd, Johnson Rd, Middle Rd and Pub Lane.

The two new crossing loops would be at Larapinta and Kagaru; and the extension of the existing ones at Greenbank and Bromelton.

“What that means for Logan is the trains will run on the existing interstate route from the northern boundary at Johnstone Rd where it borders Brisbane Council area to the southern boundary at Teviot Brook.”

Road crossings are a sticking point for the proposed Inland Rail route.

Acting mayor Cherie Dalley, in a committee meeting, questioned the amount of consultation with the community over transportation of coal through growing suburbs and said lowering the line was not a solution.

Cr Dalley also said the ARTC would gain greater community support if it committed to widening cross-road bridges from two lanes to four lanes at Western Flagstone and Undullah.

“The bottom line is that we are going to have roughly 150,000 people out in that southwest corridor right where the rail line is going through,” Cr Dalley said.

“We have roads crossing the track there and the majority are two-lane roads.

“The fact that you are lowering those rail lines under those bridges doesn’t help those people.”
Ms Roberts agreed there was a lack of community understanding about the project despite information sessions in December, and said letterbox drops, social media campaigns and an interactive map were planned.

The next meeting of the K2ARB Community Consultative Committee will be at the Algester Sports Club, Endiandra St, Algester, on May 14 from 6pm to 8pm.