Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann

The Australian Government welcomes the establishment of a Community Consultative Committee (CCC) for the Kagaru to Acacia Ridge and Bromelton section of the Inland Rail project.

The Kagaru to Acacia Ridge and Bromelton committee will be the fifth established in Queensland, with the entire Queensland section of the Inland Rail route now covered by Community Consultative Committees. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael McCormack said the establishment of this committee by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is an important opportunity for residents in the southern suburbs of Brisbane, Logan and parts of the Scenic Rim area to contribute local knowledge to the Inland Rail project.

“The Liberal and Nationals’ Government understands strong working relationships between ARTC, local communities, stakeholder groups and councils are critical to the success of this project. CCCs help ensure community issues are brought to the fore and addressed during the planning and design of each Inland Rail section,” Mr McCormack said.

“CCCs provide an important mechanism for local communities to be listened to, delivering on the Government’s commitment to ensure strong relationships are developed with local landowners and community groups along the route.

“An important role for the Kagaru to Acacia Ridge and Bromelton Community Consultative Committee will be to provide community input on aspects of the studies required as part of the project approvals process.”

Minister for Finance Mathias Cormann said the Australian Government is committed to deliver Inland Rail in a way that genuinely engaged with the communities along the route.

“We are investing more than $9 billion to make this longstanding vision of a freight corridor between Melbourne and Brisbane a reality,” Senator Cormann said. 

“With Australia’s freight task set to almost double over the next 20 years, this is a critically important investment into Australia’s freight infrastructure for the future, with every dollar the Government invests forecast to return $2.62 to the Australian economy.”

Federal Member for Forde Bert van Manen said community consultation is critical to ensuring we deliver this project in a way which minimises impacts on local communities.

“Inland Rail is critical for the future of the country, but equally it must be built in way which minimises the impact on local communities,” Mr van Manen said.

“I have no doubt that ensuring noise and coal dust are adequately managed will be an important focus of the community consultative committee.”

Federal Member for Wright, Scott Buchholz welcomed the establishment of the final community consultative committee for the south-east Queensland region.

“This gives the people of Beaudesert, Jimboomba and the wider region the opportunity to have close consultation on the Inland Rail. I know this has been really important in sharing the feedback of the community in other parts of the region, including through the Lockyer Valley,” Mr Buchholz said.

“Inland Rail is vital – it will bring jobs and opportunity to the region, but as a local member I remain committed to working with the ARTC to ensure the local community is listened to.”

Inland Rail will create an estimated 16,000 direct and indirect jobs during construction and add $16 billion to the economy in its first 50 years of operation, contributing to the nation’s economic growth and prosperity of our regions.

In Queensland alone Inland Rail will boost the Gross State Product by $7 billion and create approximately 5,750 direct and indirect jobs during construction.

ARTC began seeking nominations for the committee on July 28 and the nomination process ends on 5pm, Friday 31 August.

Interested community members wanting to participate in the CCC are encouraged to nominate with more information about the CCCs available at www.inlandrail.artc.com.au.