2 September, 2022
Hamilton says Inland Rail work has begun
Member for Groom Garth Hamilton said "enabling work" had started on the Queensland section of Inland Rail with Interlink SQ's contract to relocate utilities under way.
Some members of the community, however, are not convinced the work is part of the controversial project.
Mr Hamilton said this was the beginning of an exciting future for the Toowoomba Region.
“The beginning of the enabling works project shows that Inland Rail has moved from a plan to reality,” Mr Hamilton said.
“With work underway on relocating sewer infrastructure, a waste-water pipeline and telecommunications cabling within the Inland Rail alignment, it signals the start of local construction of this nation-building project.
“The economic opportunities that Inland Rail brings will benefit businesses of all sizes during the construction phase and beyond.
The work at InterLink SQ is the first of many construction projects for Inland Rail in the Toowoomba Region.
“This contract is a perfect example of at least two local companies, Interlink SQ and Newlands Construction, benefitting directly from this initial investment in Inland Rail,” Mr Hamilton said.
The project has been controversial with some land owners continuing to be outspoken about issues they perceive with the Queensland section.
Millmerran Rail Group president Wes Judd said he was not aware of where any preliminary work would have begun.
“Inland Rail has not started in Queensland because, number one, it is still under review for an Environmental Impact Statement from the State Government and the Co-ordinator General has been asked to provide more information that we understand won’t be finalised until 2023.
“And number two, the Federal Government is going to conduct a review of Inland Rail and we expect that this Queensland section will come under extra scrutiny given the controversy that surrounds it,” Mr Judd said.
