Logan City Council will ask the Queensland and Australian Governments to agree to a list of safeguards to protect the community from the impacts of Inland Rail.
The Kagaru to Acacia Ridge and Bromelton (K2ARB) alignment will run through, or parallel to, the City of Logan suburbs of Hillcrest, Forestdale, Greenbank, Boronia Heights, Kagaru, Greater Flagstone and North Maclean.
Council's concerns, which will also be sent to the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), requests that all parties make community safety a top priority.
The concerns include:
- That all environmental impacts including air, noise and vibration are assessed using methodologies that account for long-term consequences
- Legally binding triggers that enforce mitigation measures as residential and other development occurs along the route
- That the Australian Government provides $750,000 in grant funding to Council to support future transport planning
- That the ARTC uses transport routes for site access that avoid densely populated residential areas and school zones
- The ARTC fully funds any road upgrades, road maintenance and bridge upgrades required under the project.
Council will also call on Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey to not give approval for K2ARB to proceed until a business case for the Salisbury to Beaudesert Passenger Rail Project (S2B) is completed.
This is in addition to Council's resolution in April this year seeking assurances from Minister Bailey that the approval pathway for the K2ARB be transparent, rigorous and consultative to ensure that the interests of the community are properly considered and safeguarded.
Council passed this resolution after the Queensland Coordinator-General decided the project's approvals process would be determined by Transport and Main Roads and wouldn't be called in as a co-ordinated project, which Council had previously lobbied for.
City of Logan Mayor Darren Power said Inland Rail would have a big effect on the city.
"There could be up to 45 movements a day of trains, some of which will be double-stacked, up to 1.8km in length, and carrying coal," Cr Power said.
"That will have a profound effect on the quality of life of residents who'll be dealing with increased noise and vibration and possible air quality concerns."
"Construction of the line will also bring its own challenges."
Infrastructure Chair Councillor Teresa Lane said Council's request is reasonable given the magnitude of the project.
"Reassuring Australian citizens their governments have a plan to mitigate negative impacts of the Inland Rail project isn't a big ask," Cr Lane said.
"Every family living along that corridor deserves to know what their government has planned for their future, when it will happen and what measures they will put in place to protect our quality of life."
Inland Rail is a 1700km freight line that will connect Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Australia.
