Project goes off track

State won’t resume Inland Rail land until ‘concerns’ addressed

THE Queensland Government will not resume farming land for the Inland Rail project until the “genuine concerns” of affected communities are listened to.

State Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said his government was “not satisfied with the work being undertaken on the Inland Rail project to date”.

“The Turnbull Government has asked the State Government to use its powers to resume land for the Inland Rail Project,” Mr Bailey said.

“We won’t be doing that unless and until the Turnbull Government engages in real consultation and listens to the genuine concerns of affected communities.”

The selection of the Federal Government’s “preferred corridor” from Yelarbon to Gowrie in September 2017 led to an outcry from landholders along the length of line.

Farmers are worried about the dissection of prime agricultural land, impacts on businesses, and the potential that a poorly-designed crossing of the 12.5km Condamine floodplain could lead to the creation of an inland dam.

Mr Bailey said he shared the community’s concerns regarding the route’s impact and said the Federal Government “had more work to do”.

“That’s their job. It’s their project. We believe those communities deserve that respect,” he said.

With Barnaby Joyce’s move to the backbench, Michael McCormack has taken on the role of Federal Infrastructure Minister, the third since December 2017.

“I’ll be writing to Minister McCormack and inviting him to meet with us,” Mr Bailey said.

“There are a whole range of Queensland issues I’d like to engage with them over and I hope he brings an open mind in terms of solutions for Queensland.”