Inland Rail deal done
tobi.loftus@thechronicle.com.au
AN INTERNATIONAL panel of experts will be established to advise on the modelling of potential flood impacts of the Inland Rail project on the Condamine flood plain.
The establishment of such a panel was one of the conditions the Queensland Government placed on the Federal Government before it signed up to the bilateral agreement for the project.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey yesterday signed that agreement at Toowoomba City Hall.
The signing means the government corporation overseeing Inland Rail, the Australian Rail Track Corporation, can now move forward with the environmental impact statement for the project, which is expected to be submitted to the State Government before the end of the year.
It also means land resumptions can now occur.
“The delivery of Inland Rail in Queensland is a huge win for the state, providing jobs to communities,” Mr Bailey said.
“All parties have agreed to establish an international panel to advise on the modelling of potential flood impacts and continuing community consultation along the project’s chosen route through Queensland.
“In addition to the expert hydrologists already engaged by the ARTC, an expert panel of international specialists will be established to advise on best practice flood structural integrity and report back to the Queensland and Australian Governments.”
Mr McCormack said the Federal Government had spent $9.3 billion on Inland Rail and it would continue to spend money on this international panel as it wanted the “best possible advice”.
“It comes at a cost, but what price do you pay on success, for that once in a generation project,” he said.
“The panel that we’ve set up will operate at arm’s length from the ARTC and from government and will get the best possible outcomes in the independent fashion that we want to see, to satisfy all of those people … who still have concerns.”