Toowoomba Regional Council calls for changes to Inland Rail draft EIS statement for Gowrie to Helidon section

The Toowoomba Regional Council have raised concerns around key areas of the $15 billion Inland Rail project. Here’s the problems they see with its impact on Toowoomba.

Toowoomba Regional Council has raised concerns the Inland Rail draft environmental impact statement for the Gowrie to Helidon section fails to meet the state government’s terms of reference.

A draft EIS was prepared by the Australian Rail Track Corporation for the planned 28km stretch of new track to run from Gowrie, north west of Toowoomba to Helidon and include several significant viaducts and cuttings, as well as a 6.2km tunnel through the Toowoomba Range, which when completed will be the largest diameter diesel freight tunnel in the southern hemisphere.

In response to the EIS, Toowoomba Regional Council has flagged groundwater, construction water, spoil management and local road connectivity as areas of concern, as well as construction timing, passenger rail and environmental and planning scheme impacts.

A map of the planned route of the Gowrie to Helidon section of the Inland Rail project. Photo: Inland Rail.

TRC has submitted to the state government’s Office of the Co-ordinator General the draft EIS doesn’t meet their terms of reference.

“Council’s rigorous technical review of the draft EIS has found there is not sufficient detail or appropriate mitigation measures outlined for potential and possibly significant environmental, infrastructure, water resource, cultural, social and economic impacts of the proposed project,” TRC Mayor Paul Antonio said.

“Council continues to support Inland Rail and can see the benefits of the nation-building project, but we must make sure that negative impacts on our region are minimised. Council will continue to push for the project to deliver the best possible outcomes for our communities.”

Construction of the Inland Rail freight project between Parkes and Narromine. Photo: ARTC Media.

Mr Antonio said council was particularly concerned about sources of water for construction purposes.

“Given the significance of water in the region, ARTC needs to clearly outline an approach to construction water management that does not include Council resources. Our position is that all the water sources used to supply Toowoomba communities’ town water supplies are not available for the construction of the Inland Rail by ARTC or its contractors,” he said.

“Council is also concerned that a tunnel through The Range may breach and potentially drain an aquifer which is used to source town water.

“Any loss of significant quantities of water is not acceptable.”