IN November, 2001, Goondiwindi Regional Council mayor, Lawrence Springborg, attended the inauguration of the Australian Inland Rail Expressway, Melbourne to Goondiwindi line, on the banks of the MacIntyre River at Goondiwindi.

To mark this occasion, the then Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson, planted a river gum and unveiled a commemorative plaque, while chairman of the Australian Transport and Energy Corridor, Everald Compton, drove a silver rail spike into a granite boulder to signify the commencement of the project.

“Now, nearly 25 years later, and following the news the Inland Rail project will halt at Parkes, I can say this is one of the worst examples of delivery of a public infrastructure project I’ve ever seen,” Cr Springborg said.

“To clarify – it’s been a noble concept, but has been executed very, very badly.

“I look at what our forebears achieved in the 1860s – building Queensland’s first rail line from Grandchester to Ipswich in a year.

Then-Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson (far right), former chairman of the Australian Transport, Energy Corridor, Everald Compton, former Member for Maranoa Bruce Scott, and former Member for Hinkler, the late Paul Neville at the unveiling of a commemorative plaque in 2001 to mark the start of the Australian Inland Rail Expressway (Image Supplied).

“Then, a few decades later, pushing the south-western line from Inglewood through Yelarbon and on toward Goondiwindi – and I just shake my head.

“With picks and shovels and horses, they achieved a speed and certainty we can only marvel at today,” he said.

“With all we’ve been through locally, I know this announcement will be a disappointment to the many who have planned and invested on the assurances given for this project.

“The intent of the inland rail was to improve the efficiency of logistics transport in Australia and take the growing number of heavy vehicles off the roads.

“As it stands, the lack of investment in state and national highways in our region is a significant pain point, and this disappointing news means there is no real plan for addressing this challenge.

“We are now told the government will move to preserve the corridor – Council is now trying to clarify what this means with state and federal agencies,” Cr Springborg said.