Millmerran Rail Group rejects Inland Rail deal signed between ARTC, engineers

The Federal Government talked up jobs and progress on Friday but Millmerran farmers were quick to pour water on their celebrations saying their fight to change the rail route is far from over.

Millmerran Rail Group Chairman Wes Judd said the agreement between ARTC and BHQ was not worth the paper it was written on.

Farmers living along the Border to Gowrie Inland Rail Route have slammed a decision to award the civil engineering contract to Brisbane-based venture BHQ.

It has been tasked with building 160km of rail track from Yelarbon to Gowrie Junction – a task that is expected to employ more than 950 people.

Australian Rail Track Corporation’s Inland Rail interim chief executive Rebecca Pickering said construction would not start until statutory approvals have been received from the Queensland and Australian governments.

“But with the appointment of a preferred proponent now tells local businesses to get Inland Rail ready,” she said.

The joint venture in charge of the works is made up of Bielby Holdings Pty Ltd, JF Hull Holdings Pty Ltd and QH & M Birt Pty Ltd.

A project map of the planned route of the NSW/Queensland to Gowrie section of the Inland Rail project.

The announcement was met to criticism from Millmerran Rail Group.

It has been lobbying the Federal Government to change the route, citing the adverse impact it would have on the Condamine Flood Plain and the farmers that rely on it to feed their families.

Millmerran Rail Group Chairman Wes Judd said the agreement between ARTC and BHQ was not worth the paper it was written on.

He said neither the Queensland nor Australian Governments had approved the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed flood plain route.

Furthermore, the Independent Panel of Experts appointed by both governments was still investigating ARTC’s flood modelling.

“Nothing is settled with this proposed route,” Mr Judd said.

“The ARTC can appoint designers and update websites all they like but with no EIS approval they cannot lay a sleeper.

“Advice that we have seen from the Co-ordinator-General’s office that we have seen today confirms this.”

Mr Judd added that one of the major stakeholders – the Toowoomba Regional Council was sceptical of route in its response to the draft EIS.

Its submission recommended that the Draft EIS be rewritten to remove inconsistencies and confusion raised through missing, potentially misleading, or inaccurate information.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said earlier this week the freight route was “absolutely set” despite a Labor-led Senate committee calling for the business case to be reviewed and issues on the Condamine flood plain to be addressed.