Residents push for greater say at first Inland Rail meeting

RESIDENTS living along a proposed freight train line say they are not being given a chance to air their concerns, despite a community consultation meeting planned for next month.

RESIDENTS living along a proposed freight train line say they are not being given a chance to air their concerns, despite a community consultation meeting planned for November 12.

The first meeting of the Australian Rail Track Corporation’s Community Consultative Committee will be open to the public but only members of the committee will be able to speak.

Chairman of the committee John Brent, the former Scenic Rim mayor, said members of the public would have to get committee members to raise issues on their behalf.

“There is the expectation members of the committee will be able to raise issues on behalf of the public,” Mr Brent said.

“The meeting will follow usual protocol and after guests speakers, committee members will be able to ask questions.”

Mr Brent said the purpose of the first meeting was to bring the community” up to speed” over planning for the freight line.

Committee member and Forestdale resident Suz Corbett said she was concerned the community would not get enough time to raise issues.

“I am disappointed with the agenda content set by the ARTC and John Brent,” she said. “I drew their attention to the critical omission in the first agenda that there is no provision for questions from committee members, which is what I thought was the purpose of these meetings.

“These meetings only have two hours every three months over a period of two years, which is a total of eight hours. I am concerned ARTC will take up precious time speaking about their project and not the community’s issues.”

Mrs Corbett, who helped found the Inland Rail Action Group, dismissed concerns about holding the meeting at Crestmead but said she hoped the ARTC would find a venue closer to the rail where the communities would be directly impacted for future meetings.

IRAG member Leisa Dobson in her backyard.

IRAG member Leisa Dobson, whose Hillcrest backyard is 20m from the existing line, said she wanted her concerns to be dealt with.

“I think this lack of community consultation and committee appointments is because it is a done deal,” she said.

“They are just going to railroad this through - and residents won’t even get a fence or sound barrier. This plan is considered a material change of use and therefore must include a comprehensive environmental impact statement.”

Mrs Dobson and her neighbours have all written to the state and federal governments expressing their concerns but have had no replies.