Inland Rail

THE Millmerran Rail Group is running an aggressive campaign designed to heighten community anxiety and undermine confidence in Australian Rail Track Corporation

(ARTC).

The not-so-hidden agenda is palming the route off onto Karara-Leyburn-Felton, which has previously been found less suitable on many counts.

No-one on the Karara-Leyburn-Felton route wants the inland rail because noone can possibly benefit.

By way of contrast, Millmerran businesses and resident workers are likely to benefit enormously if the rail goes their way.

Just as important is the fact that millions have already been spent on proving the feasibility of the Millmerran route.

The key to this proof is the flood modelling. In this case everyone should hear the opinion of someone who actually knows what they are talking about. According to an independent review by Dr John Macintosh (Senate Inquiry-ARTC submission 128 Attachment 1) ARTC’s flood modelling across the lower Condamine flood plain:

“… is sufficient to ensure that model performance can be used as a basis to inform on expected flooding impacts, with a great degree of confidence” … He further explains “… flood modelling is a schematisation of reality, and not a replica”.

The review reports that landowner observations have been considered and that “the precautionary principle” has been adopted. In fact, inland rail infrastructure across the Condamine flood plain has evolved from three bridges and 900 culverts to six bridges and 500 culverts to accommodate refinements to the original flood model.

Further refinements are ongoing but the Millmerran Rail Group – as a political lobby determined to re-route inland rail through other people’s farms and properties – is keen to run a scare campaign about ARTCs flood modelling work.

Current modelling predicts minimal additional consequences (due to the inland rail infrastructure) for local landholders due to floods ranging in severity up-to one in 100 year events. IAN WHAN, Friends of Felton president