Chair’s summary

Southern Darling Downs Community Consultative Committee

The 14th meeting of the Southern Darling Downs Community Consultative Committee (the Committee) was held in person at the Inglewood Civic Centre on Wednesday 1 March 2023.

This summary provides an overview of the meeting and ensures information is shared with the community at the earliest opportunity. It is a precursor to the formal meeting record and the Committee meeting minutes, which will be published on the Inland Rail website following preparation and endorsement by the Committee and Chair.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Graham Clapham and attended by nine of the 10 Southern Darling Downs committee members. Eight of the committee members attended inperson, one member attended online, and one member tendered their apology. The meeting was observed by representatives from ARTC Inland Rail, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA), BHQ Joint Venture, Laing O’Rourke Queensland (LORQ) and three community members.

The purpose of the meeting was to provide the Committee and community members with a general update on the progress of the NSW/ Queensland Border to Gowrie (B2G) section of the Inland Rail program.

The meeting included an overview of the approvals and construction progress of the Inland Rail program including construction commencing in Victoria, and NSW State Government approval of the North Star to the Border (NS2B) and Narromine to Narrabri (N2N) Environmental Impact Statements (EIS).

An update on the B2G project included details on the revised draft EIS, ongoing engagement activities, and how local businesses can be involved on the Inland Rail program.

The Chair and one committee member presented on the CCC alignment tour from Gowrie to Moree held on 4–5 March 2023. The tour was attended by Committee members and representatives from ARTC Inland Rail and provided an opportunity for them to see sections of the project in construction, ask questions and discuss interests and concerns.

LORQ, our preferred civil works contractor for the Central Civil Works Program including the NS2B project project, provided an update on alignment surveys and investigations including cultural heritage, geotechnical, ecology and utility services investigations. An overview was also provided about plans for a proposed workers’ accommodation camp for Goondiwindi, which will provide accommodation for those working on the NSW section of the NS2B project.

BHQ JV, the preferred construction contractor for the Northern Civil Works Program, provided an update about the progress of geotechnical investigations underway and biosecurity and weed and seed cleaning protocols that are in place for BHQ JV and ARTC Inland Rail.

The next meeting will be held in Millmerran at a date yet to be determined. Details will be shared closer to the date to ensure those who would like to attend have that opportunity. Mr. Graham Clapham

Chair, Southern Darling Downs Community Consultative Committee 1 March 2023