October 3, 2017
The Queensland Farmers Federation believes the Federal Government has made the wrong decision in regards to the route for the Yelarbon to Gowrie section of the Inland Rail, but it doesn’t expect the decision to change.
“The project’s initial consultation process has resulted in confusion and frustration from the very people that need to be brought along for the ride,” a QFF statement said.
“Last week, Federal Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester announced the Queensland section of the Inland Rail line route between Yelarbon and Gowrie will run via Brookstead, Pittsworth and the Wellcamp-Charlton Industrial Precinct.
“This designated corridor has potentially significant implications for farmers and landholders on the Condamine floodplain, and QFF and industry members remain concerned with how the line will cross up to 16km of the floodplain between Brookstead and Millmerran.
“While QFF and members do not consider the right decision has been made, after you factor in the considerations and provisions needed to accommodate the floodplain concerns and impacts raised, it is unlikely to change.
“QFF is now committed to holding the government to account on its promise to consult and work with the community to get the engineering right and ensure it is communicated in a way landholders can understand and trust.
“With only a very small percentage of Australia considered prime agricultural land, it is essential that as a community, State and nation we are not compromising or unnecessarily taking some of the best land out of production.
“Any decisions made impacting on prime agricultural land must be considered against existing rural planning legislation and the goal of doubling the state’s agricultural production by 2040.”
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