Trucks to choke roads as Qld, federal governments dither on crucial rail link to Port of Brisbane

Nine years after it was first flagged, work is yet to start on a major rail link to Queensland’s busiest industrial site – and it could lead to heavy-vehicle chaos.

Port of Brisbane chief executive Neil Stephens. Picture: Richard Walker

Millions more trucks will choke Brisbane’s roads as the state government pockets $16m in commonwealth cash supposed to be spent analysing how to link the Port of Brisbane with Australia’s Inland Rail network.

A dedicated freight link to the Port of Brisbane was discussed for decades before it was listed by Infrastructure Australia in 2016 as an essential project that should be built by 2026.

Following nine years of delay, the project is again on hold while the federal government reviews its infrastructure priorities.

The latest delay has prompted warnings Brisbane’s roads will be choked by trucks, with the number of heavy vehicle movements tipped to soar from about four million now to 13 million by 2050 as container trade at the port grows by more than 300 per cent.

A dedicated freight route from the Port of Brisbane was first flagged in 2016.

Freight is shipped from the port along the existing rail network, but blackout periods during peak hour and the priority of passenger services threatens to constrain productivity and leave suburban roads gridlocked.

The federal government in 2019 gifted Queensland $20m for a business case over three years to determine how freight could be sent to the Inland Rail network from the Port of Brisbane, which has the lowest rail utilisation rate of the five capital city ports.

But four years after pocketing the cash, the state government has spent just $4.4m and is yet to make significant progress into the project.

More lengthy delays are expected, with the remaining $15.6m allocated to be spent over the next four years to the 2026-27 financial year.

Port of Brisbane chief executive Neil Stephens said the lack of a dedicated freight rail connection meant roads would be “swamped by trucks”.

Port of Brisbane chief executive Neil Stephens. Picture: Richard Walker

“The federal and state governments announced this taxpayer-funded study almost four years ago to the day,” he said.

“Four years is more than enough time to get this work done and into the public domain, in order for all parties to understand how we can move this critical project forward.

“With the region set to experience nation-leading population growth in the decades ahead, we must move now to build a freight network that keeps costs for consumers low and protects the liveability of our local communities.”

The former federal Coalition government planned to finish Inland Rail at Acacia Ridge before outcry prompted it to later launch a joint $1.5m study to analyse how to connect the network with the port.

It was finished but never released.

The state government has provided an “in-kind contribution” to the $20m study, which a Transport and Main Roads spokeswoman claimed was “being finalised”.

An Aurizon coal train travels through Toowoomba. Picture: Kevin Farmer

She did not detail the cause for delay, but noted the project had been recently paused while a national infrastructure review was under way.

“Providing better freight rail connectivity to the Port of Brisbane will ease congestion, improve liveability and boost economic prosperity in South East Queensland,” she said.

“TMR is currently working with the Australian government to determine the next steps for the project following the independent review of Inland Rail.

“The Port of Brisbane investigations are also subject to the outcomes of the independent review of the Australian government’s Infrastructure Investment Program that is currently under way.”

The state government’s contribution to the project consisted of consultancy oversight, advice, governance and procurement management, which was provided at “no cost to the project”, the spokeswoman said.

Factbox

A dedicated freight route from the Port of Brisbane was first flagged in 2016.

Just $4.4m of $20m provided in 2019 for a business case has been spent.

The rest of the $15.6m is allocated over four years.

Originally published as Trucks to choke roads as Qld, federal governments dither on crucial rail link to Port of Brisbane