The Labor Government’s recent announcement that the Inland Rail project will be stopping at Parkes instead of its original plan to go to Brisbane has faced stark backlash from many regional leaders, including Junee Mayor Bob Callow.
Many are confused as to what this means for them and are left to wonder what the point of everything even was.
In a more direct form of pushback against the decision, the Coalition has launched a ‘Rescue our Rail’ petition.
Leader of The Nationals, Matt Canavan, said Labor’s decision to scrap the Inland Rail project halfway through was devastating for regional communities and must be overturned.
An even more sour taste was left in the mouths of the community as it was announced that Labor would be spending another $3.8 billion on Victorian Labor’s unfunded $200 billion Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop.
Junee’s Mayor Bob Callow has slammed this decision by asking what the point of it all was. While the Junee section remains unaffected (in writing), the termination of any part of the project will have a knock-on effect. Mayor Callow said the project is now in limbo even though the finish line was so close in sight.
“After having a discussion with Senator Bridget McKenzie, there were 49 representatives there from 29 councils, and all the councils along the line were represented at this forum,” he said.
“They all had something to say about the funding announcement, and they are still doing land acquisitions up north, so still ensuring the corridor is still there. We are getting the bigger impression that it’s on ice rather than axed permanently.”
While they can’t get any firm indication whether this may be the case, Mayor Callow said from a Junee perspective, a lot of people will still be affected by the construction and may even question the point of the entire project if it won’t go through to Brisbane.
“That’s generally the feeling amongst councils, especially councils north of Parkes, councils that are already heavily invested in infrastructure and looking forward, most people are trying to say, we were investing in this Inland Rail coming through here, and bringing prosperity to their neck of the woods, and it’s not going to happen now,” he said.
“There are people who are financially disadvantaged. Families that have moved to the area because they thought there were going to be jobs and investment, and that’s not going to happen now, so it’s very disappointing, and it’s just not the way Australia should do things. If we start something, we should bloody well finish it.
“This meant a lot to future investment in Australia and attracting investment into the area. Even here at Junee, with the double stack containers now being able to come here, perhaps there could have been investment around that in storage.
“They’re saying $45 billion for the Inland Rail and no indication of where that figure came from or how much it would take to finish it right through. In my opinion, if they don’t finish it right through, then it was absolutely pointless and does nobody any real good. Especially those councils north of Parkes that are going to have trucks coming into Parkes through their electorates, and they will be big trucks on historically older roads that aren’t meant for big trucks. These councils will probably be facing a bigger road bill than they otherwise would have.”
“Had it gone through, it would have provided so much more for the regions here, and it just seems that regional Australia just doesn’t matter.
“The Inland Rail, people themselves, we’ve worked tirelessly with, they’ve been great people to work with, and they can only base everything they say to us on that it’s a federal government project, and based on what they are being told too, so I’ll bet they are as heartbroken as the rest of us.
“Hopefully, if enough people get on board and tell the Government just how displeased we are and what a stupid decision it was, then perhaps they’ll just resip their last drink and come back on board and finish the project. It could do so much more to Australia than a metropolitan rail loop, which will do well for Melbourne, but that’s Melbourne City, we’re talking Melbourne to Brisbane and everybody in between, so, yes it is ridiculous.
“We are just hoping that they’ll finish the projects that they’re half-finished doing here in Junee.”
“We are hoping that the Kemp Street Bridge will get finished properly, and there’ll be no reduction in spending on what’s already been approved because people have been put out for a long time, and they’ll want that bridge put back just the way that they have been told it will be. Council will do [their] bit. We’re ready to go. But we’re just hoping that the Inland Rail people can continue and commit to the bridge being fully operational in September ’27.”
Jack Murray
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