Logan fury over Inland Rail delay as ARTC prepares for grilling over costings
The developer of the controversial inland freight rail will face tough questioning about costings when a Senate Estimates committee convenes next week.
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The developer of the controversial inland freight rail will face tough questioning about costings when a Senate Estimates committee convenes next week.
■ CALL TO EXPAND INLAND RAIL REVIEW TO SOUTHERN AREAS
■ INLAND RAIL SENATE INQUIRY LETTER
Australian Rail Track Corporation chief executive Richard Wankmuller and senior executives will be asked about a blowout in costs from $9 billion to $12 billion.
The questioning is also likely to focus on additional costs of an estimated $6 billion for the stretch of track from Gowrie to Kagaru, the most expensive part of the project which includes 9km of tunnels.
The line, which is designed to one day carry double-stacked freight trains and uncovered coal, will run through some of southeast Queensland’s most populated areas.
Plans suggest 230,000 Logan residents will be living within a 3km zone of the track by 2041.
The Estimates hearings are unlikely to focus on concerns about technical studies or the lack of community consultation.
Those issues were raised this week by Logan mayor Darren Power who blasted the federal government for delaying the next Senate inquiry from November 11 to February next year.
Cr Power said the February postponement was despite an announcement in June by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to fast-track the project.
“It's ‘not good enough’ that Logan residents have been left in the dark due to yet another delay,” he said.
“Council has expressed concerns since 2016 regarding the K2ARB section of Inland Rail and the catastrophic impacts on our city.
“This route was selected without consultation and residents did not get an opportunity
to influence route selection or offer alternatives.
“The federal government’s view is that the project is a fait accompli, but I will not sit
idly by and allow the ARTC to bulldoze their way through our city without putting up a
fight,” he said.
Cr Power said the establishment of a Community Consultative Committee was a positive step even though the public was not barred from engaging.
Forestdale resident Suz Corbett, who is on the committee, said she was looking forward to the outcome from next week’s Estimates and congratulated the Logan mayor for taking a hard line stance.
“There are 50,000 residents along this line who feel totally forgotten and neglected so it’s nice that our frustrations are being heard by our mayor but it would be even better if the Deputy Prime Minister and state representatives listened as well.”
Timeline of delays
September 17, 2019: The Senate moved that the management of the Inland Rail project by the ARTC be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by September 30, 2020.
June 11, 2020: The Senate granted an extension of time to report until November 11, 2020.
September 30, 2020: The Senate granted a further extension of time to report until February 11, 2021.