BIBLE THOUGHT

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 AKJV) The power we need to face time and eternity is found in Jesus and Him alone.

This group should be assisting to protect and expand the existing businesses and enterprises in our region, rather than destroying them for the short-term gain of larger companies during the construction phase of this Inland Rail boondoggle. This activity can be likened to the boom years of the construction phase of the mining industry.

TSBE seems to have forgotten the “Surat Basin Enterprise” portion of its title. Not only has it ignoring the obliteration of stud cattle breeding enterprises, the ruination of equine breeding and training facilities and the demise of small local businesses, to-date there has been a failure to explore the potential that Inland Rail could have for the Surat Basin and Inland Qld.

Presently the proposed Inland Rail track travels east when it reaches the Qld/NSW border.

The farmers on the Darling Downs understand that this would provide little economic benefit to the region post-construction phase; unlike the unsubstantiated figures Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) are spruiking.

There are countless more commodities in the Surat Basin and further north that would utilise a rail network and the resource industry has capital ready to invest on a rail project.

Struggling to gain public private partnership for key sections of the project should ring alarms bells within the organisation.

MELISSA PAPPIN, Athol