Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack says of Inland Rail it’s ‘time to get on with the job’

It’s been three years since the Federal Government announced it had preferred Inland Rail route in the Toowoomba region. Now Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has revealed his position on a recent review.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack says it’s “time to get on with the job” of building Inland Rail.

Visiting the region today, Mr McCormack fielded numerous questions from media about a review of an alternate Inland Rail route he requested earlier this year.

The review of two variations of the alternate “Forestry Route” via Cecil Plains found they were slower and more expensive than the government’s preferred route, which was selected in 2017.

Despite the review stating it did not provide advice on which route alignment was preferred, Mr McCormack yesterday said the independent analysis had “come back to us and told us that the route, the route that was originally endorsed by cabinet back in 2017, that route is the preferred route”.

“We’ve had the other route looked at we’ve had other routes observed here in this particular region,” he said.

“We will continue to consult, the Australian Rail Track Corporation will continue to consult with communities, will continue to take on board, through the (Environmental Impact Statement) process, all of that, and we understand we need to get on with this job.

“It is going to create many jobs and it’s going to benefit many, many businesses.”

The Millmerran Rail Group asked to meet with Mr McCormack today to discuss the findings of the review but he said he was not able to do so.

The group has long held concerns over the current route’s crossing of the Condamine flood plain, which they say could exacerbate flooding in the area.

Inland Rail Senate inquiry chairman Senator Glenn Sterle and Senator Anthony Chisholm are meeting landholders on the Darling Downs tomorrow.