Southern Downs looks to take Inland Rail from Millmerran

THE mayor of Southern Downs Regional Council wants the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail to run past Warwick instead of Millmerran.

THE mayor of Southern Downs Regional Council wants the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail line to run past Warwick instead of Millmerran.

Cr Tracy Dobie is calling for the route to follow the existing line rather than creating new track through prime agricultural land.

She said that made more sense than resuming new land.

Cr Dobie said a line through Warwick would bring a big economic boost to the Southern Downs.

With a line running near Warwick, a siding could be built which would allow produce to be shipped to Brisbane and interstate.

But Cr Dobie's main priority is maintaining a rail link between Warwick and Toowoomba.

She fears if the inland rail line misses Warwick, the current line could be abandoned, which she labelled "unacceptable".

Cr Dobie said with the federal election under way many ministers had returned to their electorates to campaign, but said she would continue to lobby all levels of government.

The economy of the Southern Downs would be increasingly tied to containerised freight, she said.

"The most efficient way to do this is by rail.

"When you think about the amount of damage that big trucks to do our road every year - and they can only move one container at a time - it doesn't make logistical sense," she said.

"I believe rail is the future and as our regions expands we will need those rail lines."

Cr Dobie is also hoping to secure a direct route to Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport.

Elected just weeks ago, Ms Dobie said she had a lot to learn from experienced mayors like Toowoomba's Cr Paul Antonio.

She said Toowoomba had undergone massive development in recent years and the Southern Downs council was hoping to learn from that - both the successes and mistakes.

"No one does anything for the first time and you can always learn from someone else.

"Our goal is to learn from Toowoomba, along with our other neighbours,"

She said the communication line was well and truly open between Warwick and Toowoomba and she planned to keep it that way.

"There's no reason to have arguments or to disagree, we can always work around any situation that may arise.

Originally published as Southern Downs looks to take Inland Rail from Millmerran