Possible rail build delay
Group to hand report tomorrow
CONSTRUCTION on the Inland Rail through the Darling Downs is not likely to happen this year, and funding for it in the upcoming Federal Budget is also at long odds.
The news is based on comments from the chair of a project reference group submitting its report to Federal Transport Minister Darren Chester tomorrow.
Former civil engineer and government director Bruce Wilson said his report, which does not offer a recommended route for the Inland Rail through the Darling Downs, would be followed by a technical report from consultants AECOM and AURCON on all four proposed routes, after which Mr Chester will make the decision.
On top of Mr Wilson saying he “couldn’t imagine” work would start in the Darling Downs route in 2017, he said the route would have to be determined before funding was allocated.
With the Federal Budget just 12 days away, there remain a number of steps before funding can be put forward.
“I think there are two separate issues, one of which is picking the route, and the other is the budget and what provisions might be available for the Inland Rail,” Mr Wilson said.
“There needs to be a route
selected before funding can be allocated for it.
“I understand the Prime Minister announced he would hope for a start this calendar year, but I can’t imagine it will start on the Darling Downs.
“There would be section elsewhere that would have long-existing rail routes.”
Mr Wilson said the key concerns aired at the drop-in
and community sessions were flooding and the interruption of prime agricultural land.
“A lot of the issues were common to all four routes,” he said.
The Federal Budget will be delivered by Treasurer Scott Morrison on May 9, with speculation that $1 billion will be allocated for the Inland Rail.