Political stoush threatens rail plans

GROOM MP Garth Hamilton has lashed out at a Coalition party room colleague, with a warning “don’t mess with Toowoomba” over the multibillion-dollar Inland Rail project.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation is building the 1700km, $15 billion freight rail link between Melbourne and Brisbane, via regional Victoria, NSW and Queensland.

The Inland Rail route from the NSW/Queensland border to Toowoomba is planned to run from near Yelarbon to Gowrie Junction.

However on August 11 a Senate inquiry released its report into the Inland Rail project, which recommended the ARTC “addresses all issues identified by the Queensland independent flood panel’s findings” after finding they had fallen short on its assessment of the flood heights and on its obligation to consult with the Millmerran community.

On the back of the findings, The Australian reported that Maranoa Nationals MP David Littleproud has distributed a four-page document to colleagues to push for the planned route from NSW to Toowoomba to be changed to appease angry farmers in his electorate.

Mr Hamilton has hit back at any suggestion the route would be changed.

“The message is clear from the Toowoomba business community. We want this project, and to anyone who’s trying to stop this from coming to Toowoomba I say loud and clear: don’t mess with Toowoomba,” he said.

“We’re not just talking about potential loss of investment now, we’re talking about the loss of jobs for our kids and grandkids.

“Inland Rail will do so much for the Toowoomba economy.”

Any change in the route of Inland Rail rests with Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Minister Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.