Inland Rail route pick

Route to link Pittsworth, Brookstead and Wellcamp

The final leg of the Inland Rail project will run from the border past Pittsworth to Brookstead and connect to the Wellcamp Charlton Industrial Precinct.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Darren Chester said while the decision would be “disappointing to some”, it was made after extensive consultation.

THE Federal Government will today announce the final Queensland leg of the Inland Rail project will run through Pittsworth and Brookstead before it links up to the Wellcamp Charlton enterprise hub area.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Darren Chester said the Yelarbon to Gowrie route decision had been a complex process and acknowledged there would be “some local impacts”.

“The selection of the preferred route for the Yelarbon to Gowrie section has been complex and I want to thank the community for its patience,” Mr Chester said.

“The government recognises the delay has caused concern in the community, but it was important that we got it right.

“It is critical that landholders are treated with respect and we will continue to work with the local community in the months and years ahead as the project is delivered.”

Residents in the impacted areas can expect to receive letters explaining the decision from this week.

Maps will be included in the mail-out.

Bruce Wilson, AM, the chair of the Yelarbon to Gowrie project reference group, will establish a consultative process with the community and continue to report back to the department.

The group will report community concerns to rail proponent, the Australian Rail Track Corporation.

“We have chosen this route because it primarily uses existing transport corridors and it is significantly more economically viable than the alternatives,” Mr Chester said.

“I understand that people have concerns about the potential impacts of the rail line on the Condamine floodplain.

“I am confident that by drawing on local knowledge and using the best engineering minds in Australia we will ensure that the effects are minimised.”

The Federal Government budgeted $8.4 billion for the tri-state project in May.

The final rail route design will be “subject to an extensive planning and approvals process, which will work through questions about technical and environmental aspects”.