City plans shunted by State

THE Townsville community and the region’s major mining enterprises are about to be dealt out of important infrastructure and improvements to the amenity of the city.

This would appear to be the rub from a Labor State Government announcement today to defer development of a new rail corridor into the port.

According to Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey, the Government’s infrastructure body, Building Queensland, has completed a Detailed Business Case on the Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor project and found that, while the freight line is strategically important for the future, current demand does not support its construction at this time.

This is a most unsatisfactory outcome for the city and the western towns crying out for the infrastructure to support regional growth and development.

What the Government has decided is to preserve the rail corridor alignment but even this appears uncertain with a call on the Federal Government to contribute funding to support this happening.

Mr Bailey also calls on the Federal Government to redirect the $ 150 million it has committed for the rail line to the port’s channel widening project. City leaders will likely argue both projects are needed. The rail corridor project is vital for the port, the city and the development of the North West Minerals Province.

Port leaders have described it as the key enabler for expanding transport capacity in Northern Australia and a critical first step in the upgrading of the Mount Isa rail line.

Studies have shown rail access to the port is the largest bottleneck in the Mount Isa rail line which supports annual production worth more than $ 4 billion.

The project also has major social and operational benefits, enabling rail traffic to be diverted around residential areas and several major level crossings, improving property values, road safety and amenity. Regional people can well ask: What about us?