Port track plan goes off the rails

DEVELOPMENT of a vital North Queensland rail corridor has been shelved by the State Government until demand for the multimillion- dollar project increases.

The proposed 8.3km Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor would connect Cluden directly to the Port of Townsville and is considered strategically important for the future development of the region.

However a detailed business case by Building Queensland, which will be publicly released today, found current freight demand did not support construction of the $ 300 million rail line.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the State Government would instead take steps to protect the TEARC route for future construction.

He called on the Federal Government to contribute funds to these measures, including land acquisition and environmental assessments.

“We also urge the Federal Government to join with us in committing funding to the construction of intermodal rail facilities at the port of Townsville, which would provide an immediate option for modal shift of product transported in half- weight containers from road to rail,” he said.

Mr Bailey said increased commodity demand, major new trades, population growth or land- use changes could trigger the future need for TEARC.

“Through the port expansion project, the Port of Townsville Authority will also assess when the new freight line will be required to support the development within the port and we await the outcome of that assessment,” he said.

Earlier this year Port of Townsville acting chief executive Claudia Brumme- Smith said TEARC was a “critical first step” for the upgrade of the Mount Isa rail line and the future growth of the port.

“Numerous studies and reports undertaken by various independent consultancies over the past decade have shown that the rail access to the Port of Townsville is the largest bottleneck for the efficiency of the Mount Isa rail line,” she said.

The Federal Government had already committed $ 150 million in funding for TEARC but Mr Bailey said this should be redirected to other key projects in Townsville identified in the City Deal.

“In particular, we again call on the Turnbull Government to match our $ 75 million commitment to expanding the Port of Townsville,” he said. “Such investment can help bring forward demand for TEARC and make it a reality sooner.”