Millmerran Rail Group calls on panel of flood experts to come to Millmerran ‘immediately’

As floodwaters rise across the Condamine floodplain, this group of farmers and landholders are calling for a panel of flood experts to come to Millmerran immediately.

Flooding yesterday at the Grasstree Creek rail bridge.

The Millmerran Rail Group has called for the International Panel of Experts examining flood impacts of the Inland Rail project to come to Millmerran “immediately” to check out the extent of current flooding.

Millmerran Rail Group Chair Wes Judd said that “rather than engage in some theoretical modelling”, the panel could examine “the current flooding event in real time”.

“They will see for themselves the large amount of debris that has been washed up against the infrastructure, and this is not a major flood,” he said.

The MRG opposes the current Inland Rail route on the basis of flooding concerns.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation, tasked with building the Inland Rail project, has confidence in its flood modelling and hydrology.

Mr Judd also said Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack had not honoured a promise he made that “the international panel would have a follow-up meeting with a hydrologist we had engaged to work on our local flood issues with Inland Rail.”

“We are disappointed this promise has been broken.

“There is still time for him to honour it.

“The current flooding event is a reminder of a real threat posed to us and our livelihoods.”