After years of standing firm on our opposition to the proposed Inland Rail I was pleased to welcome the recent announcement from the Australian Government for an independent review into the project.
Last month I met with the Hon. Catherine King MP, the new Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.
I took the opportunity to share Council’s and the community’s long-held concerns about the Australian Rail Track Corporation’s (ARTC) Inland Rail project.
We have been vocal about the serious impacts of the Kagaru and Acacia Ridge to Bromelton section (K2ARB) of the project for many years now.
The independent review, announced earlier this month, will assess the scope, schedule and cost of the controversial rail line.
We understand the review will consider the stakeholder consultation involved with selecting the route itself and it will be headed up by Dr Kerry Schott AO.
We know the route was selected without consultation and residents did not get an opportunity to have their say on the route or offer alternatives. It is the most densely populated section of the project in Queensland and those residents will bear the brunt of the noise, vibration and air quality issues.
The fight is far from over and it really is a David and Goliath battle, but I’m pleased the minister has moved to take a serious look at this project with fresh eyes through the independent review.Â
It is not good enough that our residents have been consistently ignored by the ARTC and we look forward to hearing what the review has to say when the findings come back early next year.Â
As the City of Logan continues to grow more than 40,000 residents are projected to live within one kilometre of the rail corridor in the next two decades. We need to ensure their voices are heard.
