Inland Rail EIS released

Have your say on draft Gowrie to Helidon environmental impact statement

PUBLIC consultation is open for the Australian Rail Track Corporation’s Gowrie to Helidon section of the Inland Rail project.

The 28km stretch of new track is planned to run from Gowrie, north west of Toowoomba to Helidon and includes several significant viaducts and cuttings, as well as a 6.2km tunnel through the Toowoomba Range, which when completed will be the largest diameter diesel freight tunnel in the southern hemisphere.

The state government’s Office of the Co-ordinator-General released the draft EIS on Monday, August 2, with public submissions closing on October 25.

Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor Tanya Milligan said this was the community’s opportunity to consider the findings of the environmental impact statement.

Ms Milligan said council had identified a range of impacts of concern, which included flooding, impacts to traffic, noise and vibration, flora and fauna impacts and the contamination of groundwater.

The Independent International Panel of Experts for Flood Studies of Inland Rail in Queensland also reported on the G2H, raising a series of issues in relation to the flood modelling.

“Clearly there will be enormous impacts from these works and impacts on property holders, the environment and council roads,” Ms Milligan said.

“Council is committed to seeking the best possible outcomes for our community and will make a strong submission, but what we really need is for our residents to express their concerns and lodge a submission of their own prior to the deadline.”

According to the draft EIS, construction on the Gowrie to Helidon section will begin in 2022, and will take about five years to complete at an estimated cost of $1.35 billion.

“The Toowoomba Range Tunnel is the longest single construction task associated with the Inland Rail program, with a construction duration closely approaching four years,” the report states.