Farmers reach agreement with inland rail builder

NSW Farmers has reached an agreement with the Australian Rail Track Corporation after years of bitter disputes.

The NSW Farmers lobby group says it has reached an agreement with the Australian Rail Track Corporation after years of bitter disputes.

NSW Farmers has announced a truce with the builder of the east coast’s inland rail project after years of bitter disputes.

The lobby group said it had reached an agreement with the Australian Rail Track Corporation that would lead to better treatment of landholders by the builder and its contractors.

For years, farmers have responded to the proposed route of the inland rail project - which will cut some properties in half - with protests and threats of locking their gates to contractors, saying their concerns haven’t been listened to.

NSW Farmers and ARTC say they have now worked together to create an “information pack” which will “spell out the rights and responsibilities of all parties”, a NSW Farmers statement said on Tuesday.

The announcement follows a 2021 senate review, which recommended the ARTC engage an independent mediator to improve its relationship with NSW Farmers and the NSW Country Women’s Association.

NSW Farmers inland rail taskforce chair Peter Wilson said the group had had “some frank and robust conversations with ARTC executives” and he was “pleased with the result”.

“We’re hopeful this will provide a better way forward for inland rail for all parties involved,” he said.

When completed, the inland rail project will connect Melbourne to Brisbane with a 1700-km heavy freight line.