Inland Rail - Border to Gowrie

• Table of Contents ( 55KB)
• Executive Summary ( 1.2MB)
• Chapter 01 - Introduction ( 6.8MB)
• Chapter 02 - Project Rationale ( 6.6MB)
• Chapter 03 - Legislation and Project Approvals Process ( 2.0MB)
• Chapter 04 - Assessment Methodology ( 0.4MB)
• Chapter 05 - Project Description ( 21.7MB)
• Chapter 06 - Stakeholder Engagement ( 1.4MB)
• Chapter 07 - Sustainability ( 0.4MB)
• Chapter 08 - Land Use and Tenure ( 87.5MB)
• Chapter 09 - Land Resources ( 97.5MB)
• Chapter 10 - Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment ( 18.1MB)
• Chapter 11 - Flora and Fauna ( 52.0MB)
• Chapter 12 - Air Quality ( 59.0MB)
• Chapter 13 - Surface Water ( 7.6MB)
• Chapter 14 - Flooding and Geomorphology ( 83.1MB)
• Flood mapping online portal – Plan engage
• Chapter 15 - Groundwater ( 30.6MB)
• Chapter 16 - Noise and Vibration ( 33.0MB)
• Chapter 17 - Social ( 5.6MB)
• Chapter 18 - Economics ( 0.9MB)
• Chapter 19 - Cultural Heritage ( 10.9MB)
• Chapter 20 - Traffic, Transport and Access ( 7.1MB)
• Chapter 21 - Hazard and Risk ( 1.5MB)
• Chapter 22 - Waste and Resource Management ( 1.2MB)
• Chapter 23 - Cumulative Impacts ( 1.7MB)
• Chapter 24 - Draft Outline Environmental Management Plan ( 2.3MB)
• Chapter 25 - Conclusions ( 0.3MB)
• Chapter 26 - Abbreviations and Glossary ( 0.6MB)
• Chapter 27 - References ( 0.8MB)

• Appendix A1 - Response to draft EIS Submissions ( 19.7MB)
• Appendix A2 - Terms of Reference Cross reference Table ( 0.3MB)
• Appendix B1 - Design Drawings Part 1 of 2 ( 94.5MB)
• Appendix B1 - Design Drawings Part 2 of 2 ( 80.4MB)
• Appendix B2 - Stock Routes ( .MB)
• Appendix B3 - Changes to Reference Design since Draft EIS ( 7.0MB)
• Appendix B4 - Utilities ( 61.0MB)
• Appendix B5 - Construction Water ( 0.8MB)
• Appendix C - Corporate Policies ( 0.5MB)
• Appendix D - Study Term ( 0.2MB)
• Appendix E - Consultation Report ( 7.9MB)
• Appendix F - Impacted Properties ( 1.1MB)
• Appendix G1 - Geotechnical Reports—Investigation Results Part 1 of 2 ( 57.1MB)
• Appendix G1 - Geotechnical-Reports—Investigation Results Part 2 of 2 ( 99.3MB)
• Appendix G2 - Macquarie-Geotechnical—Laboratory Results Part 1 of 3 ( 94.9MB)
• Appendix G2 - Macquarie-Geotechnical—Laboratory Results Part 2 of 3 ( 94.8MB)
• Appendix G2 - Macquarie Geotechnical—Laboratory Results Part 3 of 3 ( 93.2.MB)
• Appendix H - Geomorphology Report Part 1 of 2 ( 58.5MB)
• Appendix H - Geomorphology Report Part 2 of 2 ( 49.1MB)
• Appendix I - EMR Search Certificates and Soil Laboratory Certificates ( 10.3MB)
• Appendix J - Soil Assessment Report Part 1 of 4 ( 97.1MB)
• Appendix J - Soil Assessment Report Part 2 of 4 ( 93.7MB)
• Appendix J - Soil Assessment Report Part 3 of 4 ( 93.8MB)
• Appendix J - Soil Assessment Report Part 4 of 4 ( 82.1MB)
• Appendix K - Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment ( 69.3MB)
• Appendix L - Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Technical Report Part 1 of 7 ( 85.0MB)
• Appendix L - Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Technical Report Part 2 of 7 ( 90.8MB)
• Appendix L - Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Technical Report Part 3 of 7 ( 94.1MB)
• Appendix L - Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Technical Report Part 4 of 7 ( 55.2MB)
• Appendix L - Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Technical Report Part 5 of 7 ( 92.8MB)
• Appendix L - Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Technical Report Part 6 of 7 ( 67.9MB)
• Appendix L - Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Technical Report Part 7 of 7 ( 67.1MB)
• Appendix M - Draft Koala Management Plan ( 4.2MB)
• Appendix N - Draft Fauna Management Plan ( 0.7MB)
• Appendix O - Matters of National Environmental Significance Report Part 1 of 6 ( 90.8MB)
• Appendix O - Matters of National Environmental Significance Report Part 2 of 6 ( 73.6MB)
• Appendix O - Matters of National Environmental Significance Report Part 3 of 6 ( 96.9MB)
• Appendix O - Matters of National Environmental Significance Report Part 4 of 6 ( 84.8MB)
• Appendix O - Matters-of-National Environmental Significance Report Part 5 of 6 ( 92.9MB)
• Appendix O - Matters-of-National Environmental Significance Report Part 6 of 6 ( 49.4MB)
• Appendix P - Fauna Connectivity Strategy ( 37.9MB)
• Appendix Q - Queensland Environmental Offset Delivery Strategy Border to Gowrie ( 18.5MB)
• Appendix R - Air Quality Technical Report Part 1 of 2 ( 78.9MB)
• Appendix R - Air Quality Technical Report Part 2 of 2 ( 65.0MB)
• Appendix S - Surface Water Quality Technical Report Part 1 of 2 ( 77.9MB)
• Appendix S - Surface Water Quality Technical Report Part 2 of 2 ( 88.0MB)
• Appendix T1 - Hydrology and Flooding Technical Report Volume 1 ( 85.0MB)
• Appendix T2 - Hydrology and Flooding Technical Report Volume 2 Part 1 of 8 ( 95.6MB)
• Appendix T2 - Hydrology and Flooding Technical Report Volume 2 Part 2 of 8 ( 91.8MB)
• Appendix T2 - Hydrology and Flooding Technical Report Volume 2 Part 3 of 8 ( .MB)
• Appendix T2 - Hydrology and Flooding Technical Report Volume 2 Part 4 of 8 ( 98.9MB)
• Appendix T2 - Hydrology and Flooding Technical Report Volume 2 Part 5 of 8 ( 91.9MB)
• Appendix T2 - Hydrology and Flooding Technical Report Volume 2 Part 6 of 8 ( 92.7MB)
• Appendix T2 - Hydrology and Flooding Technical Report Volume 2 Part 7 of 8 ( 87.4MB)
• Appendix T2 - Hydrology and Flooding Technical Report Volume 2 Part 8 of 8 ( 68.6.MB)
• Appendix U - Groundwater Technical Report ( 54.1MB)
• Appendix V - Noise and Vibration Assessment—Construction and Road Traffic Part 1 of 4 ( 95.5MB)
• Appendix V - Noise and Vibration Assessment—Construction and Road Traffic Part 2 of 4 ( 96.2MB)
• Appendix V - Noise and Vibration Assessment—Construction and Road Traffic Part 3 of 4 ( 87.1MB)
• Appendix V - Noise and Vibration Assessment—Construction and Road Traffic Part 4 of 4 ( 66.4MB)
• Appendix W - Noise and Vibration Assessment—Railway Operations ( 77.4MB)
• Appendix X - Social Impact Assessment ( 1.4MB)
• Appendix Y - Economic Impact Assessment ( .MB)
• Appendix Z - Non-Indigenous Cultural Heritage Survey Report ( 22.7MB)
• Appendix AA - Traffic Impact Assessment Part 1 of 4 ( 50.6.MB)
• Appendix AA - Traffic Impact Assessment Part 2 of 4 ( 97.6MB)
• Appendix AA - Traffic Impact Assessment Part 3 of 4 ( 89.6MB)
• Appendix AA - Traffic Impact Assessment Part 4 of 4 ( 82.3MB)
• Appendix AB - Earthworks Strategy and Draft Soil Management Plan ( 6.7MB)
• Appendix AC - Proponent Commitments ( 0.3MB)
• Appendix AD - Borrow Pits Supporting Technical Information ( 22.7MB)
• Appendix AE - Whetstone Material Distribution Centre Supporting Technical Information ( 17.9MB)

• Table of Contents ( 281 KB)
• Executive Summary ( 3.7MB)
• Chapter 01 – Introduction ( 48.4 MB)
• Chapter 02 – Project Rationale ( 18 MB)
• Chapter 03 – Legislation and Project Approvals Process ( 1.2 MB)
• Chapter 04 – Assessment Methodology ( 431 KB)
• Chapter 05 – Project Description ( 23.9 MB)
• Chapter 06 – Sustainability ( 371 KB)
• Chapter 07 – Land Use and Tenure ( 44.2 MB)
• Chapter 08 – Land Resources ( 29.3 MB)
• Chapter 09 – Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment ( 27.9 MB)
• Chapter 10 – Flora and Fauna ( 15.3 MB)
• Chapter 11 – Air Quality ( 32.8 MB)
• Chapter 12 – Surface Water and Hydrology ( 35.8 MB)
• Chapter 13 – Groundwater ( 11.7 MB)
• Chapter 14 – Noise and Vibration ( 2 MB)
• Chapter 15 – Social ( 9.3 MB)
• Chapter 16 – Economics ( 1.1MB)
• Chapter 17 – Cultural Heritage ( 26 MB)
• Chapter 18 – Traffic, Transport and Access ( 15.2 MB)
• Chapter 19 – Hazard and Risk ( 2.3 MB)
• Chapter 20 – Waste Management ( 1.8 MB)
• Chapter 21 – Cumulative Impacts ( 1.8 MB)
• Chapter 22 – Outline Environmental Management Plan ( 1.3 MB)
• Chapter 23 – Conclusions ( 605 KB)
• Chapter 24 –Abbreviations and Glossary ( 622 KB)
• Chapter 25 – References ( 585 KB)

• Appendix A – Terms of Reference ( 728 KB)
• Appendix B – Terms of Reference Compliance Table ( 716 KB)
• Appendix C – Stakeholder Engagement Report  (37 MB)
• Appendix D – Study Team ( 470 KB)
• Appendix E – Corporate Policies ( 2.1 MB)
• Appendix F – Impacted Properties ( 797 KB)
• Appendix G – Geotechnical Investigation Results Part 1 of 4 ( 48.5 MB)
• Appendix G – Geotechnical Investigation Results Part 2 of 4 ( 43.6 MB)
• Appendix G – Geotechnical Investigation Results Part 3 of 4 ( 49.1 MB)
• Appendix G – Geotechnical Investigation Results Part 4 of 4 ( 46.6 MB)
• Appendix H – EMR Search Certificates and Soil Laboratory Certificates ( 23.5 MB)
• Appendix I – Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Technical Report ( 48.3 MB)
• Appendix J – Terrestrial Ecology Technical Report Part 1 of 2 ( 43.5 MB)
• Appendix J – Terrestrial Ecology Technical Report Part 2 of 2 ( 48.3 MB)
• Appendix K – Aquatic Ecology Technical Report ( 30.9 MB)
• Appendix L – Matters of National Environmental Significance Technical Report Part 1 of 4 ( 40.9 MB)
• Appendix L – Matters of National Environmental Significance Technical Report Part 2 of 4 ( 42 MB)
• Appendix L – Matters of National Environmental Significance Technical Report Part 3 of 4 ( 47.5 MB)
• Appendix L – Matters of National Environmental Significance Technical Report Part 4 of 4 ( 49.4 MB)
• Appendix M – Preliminary Fauna Movement Provision and Fencing Strategy ( 16.4 MB)
• Appendix N – Environmental Offset Delivery Strategy– QLD ( 2.7 MB)
• Appendix O – Air Quality Technical Report Part 1 of 3 ( 21.5 MB)
• Appendix O – Air Quality Technical Report Part 2 of 3 ( 45. 9 MB)
• Appendix O – Air Quality Technical Report Part 3 of 3 ( 58.6 MB)
• Appendix P – Surface Water Quality Technical Report Part 1 of 2 ( 46.5 MB)
• Appendix P – Surface Water Quality Technical Report Part 2 of 2 ( 35. 9 MB)
• Appendix Q1 – Hydrology and Flooding Technical Report Volume 1 ( 21.1 MB)
• Appendix Q2 – Hydrology and Flooding Technical Report Volume 2 Part 1 of 3 ( 46. 9 MB)
• Appendix Q2 – Hydrology and Flooding Technical Report Volume 2 Part 2 of 3 ( 42 MB)
• Appendix Q2 – Hydrology and Flooding Technical Report Volume 2 Part 3 of 3 ( 36.9 MB)
• Appendix R – Groundwater Technical Report Part 1 of 2 ( 33.4 MB)
• Appendix R – Groundwater Technical Report Part 2 of 2 ( 51.6 MB)
• Appendix S – Construction Noise and Vibration and Operational Road Traffic Noise Technical Report Part 1 of 4 ( 44.1 MB)
• Appendix S – Construction Noise and Vibration and Operational Road Traffic Noise Technical Report Part 2 of 4 ( 49.1 MB)
• Appendix S – Construction Noise and Vibration and Operational Road Traffic Noise Technical Report Part 3 of 4 ( 49 MB)
• Appendix S – Construction Noise and Vibration and Operational Road Traffic Noise Technical Report Part 4 of 4 ( 31.9 MB)
• Appendix T – Operational Railway Noise and Vibration Technical Report ( 48.4 MB)
• Appendix U – Social Impact Assessment ( 10.8 MB)
• Appendix V – Economic Impact Assessment ( 1.9 MB)
• Appendix W – Non-Indigenous Cultural Heritage Survey Report ( 14.4 MB)
• Appendix X – Traffic Impact Assessment Part 1 of 4 ( 46.9 MB)
• Appendix X – Traffic Impact Assessment Part 2 of 4 ( 44.2 MB)
• Appendix X – Traffic Impact Assessment Part 3 of 4 ( 55.6 MB)
• Appendix X – Traffic Impact Assessment Part 4 of 4 ( 39.3 MB)
• Appendix Y – Spoil Management Strategy ( 2.1 MB)
• Appendix Z – Proponent Commitments (567 KB)
• Design Drawings – Part 1 of 2 ( 39.7 MB)
• Design Drawings – Part 2 of 2 (43.1 MB)

Australian Rail Track Corporation Limited (ARTC) is an Australian Government-owned corporation and current operator of the Australian freight network, managing and maintaining approximately 8,500 kilometres of rail network across five states.

ARTC have appointed Inland Rail Pty Ltd (IRPL) as agent to act on their behalf.

IRPL is a wholly owned subsidiary of ARTC and is responsible for the delivery of the Inland Rail project in line with the Australian Government response to the independent review of Inland Rail. This includes the environmental impact assessment process and Australian Government approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. ARTC will operate the line once constructed.

IRPL prepared a revised draft EIS (RDEIS) in response to the Coordinator-General’s request for additional information. The Coordinator-General approved public consultation of the RDEIS for a period of eight weeks from, 12 May 2025 to 7 July 2025.

Following the consultation period, the Coordinator-General will consider submissions made on the RDEIS and will ask IRPL to respond to these submissions.

No. The finalisation of the EIS is the next stage of the EIS process.

Yes. A requirement of the terms of reference is for the proponent to undertake rigorous community and stakeholder engagement during the EIS process.

To ensure IRPL continue to engage with comply with their community and stakeholders after the EIS process is complete, conditions may be set in the project’s evaluation to manage social impacts.

IRPL anticipates construction will occur over four years commencing in 2029 to 2033. The below stages precede construction:

• 2025 – 2026 Environmental approvals
• Late 2025 to 2028 Property acquisition, design refinement, early works and detailed design (including consultation with landowners).

Commissioning and operation are expected from 2033 onwards.

For further information see Inland Rail: NSW/Qld Border to Gowrie Section - Inland Rail.

In June 2020, the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications and the Department of Transport and Main Roads as representatives of the State of Queensland, jointly established the Independent panel of experts for flood studies in Queensland (the panel).

Five members of the expert panel were appointed:

• Mark Babister, Chair – Managing Director, WMAwater
• Tina O’Connell – Principal Engineer, Hydrology and Hydraulics, HDR
• Ferdinand Diermanse – Expert Researcher, Deltares
• Steve Clark – Managing Director, Water Technology
• Martin Giles – Senior Principal, BMT.

The panel’s focus was investigating whether national and state guidelines, as well as industry best practice, were applied by ARTC to modelling techniques and outputs to create the existing flood models. The panel assessed four core areas:

• extent
• assumptions
• application
• interpretation.

The panel investigated the design of waterway structures in relation to the Inland Rail in a floodplain environment in Queensland.

Managing the work of the panel was the responsibility of the Australian Government and Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. The panel reported to a joint working group comprising officers from the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications and the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. All panel advice, recommendations and deliverables were reported to the Joint Working Group.

On 7 October 2022, the flood panel released their final report and recommendations on the Department of Transport and Main Road’s website.

The final flood report concludes that the flood models developed by ARTC are fit for purpose, in accordance with national guidelines and industry best practice, and account for the impacts of the reference designs. The report recommends ARTC undertake further actions during both the revised draft EIS and detailed design stages and for a suitably qualified practitioner to review the design against the flood impact objectives and actions at key design stages.

The findings of the panel will inform the Coordinator-General’s evaluation of the EIS.

To provide ongoing advice and assurance on the matters raised in the panel’s final report, the Coordinator-General has engaged two of the former panel members, supported by a Geomorphologist.  Their ongoing advice will further inform the Coordinator-General’s evaluation of the EIS.

On 7 October 2022 the Australian Government announced a review into the Inland Rail project to be led by Dr Kerry Schott AO.

The B2G rail line is proposed to be located between Gowrie (near Toowoomba) and the Queensland border, approximately 18 kilometres  south east of Goondiwindi. The proposed B2G project passes near Yelarbon, Inglewood, Millmerran, Pampas, Brookstead, Pittsworth, Southbrook, Athol and the Wellcamp-Charlton industrial precinct. The proposed route will use existing rail infrastructure including Queensland Rail’s South Western Line and the Millmerran Branch Line.

It connects to the Inland Rail Gowrie - Helidon coordinated project in the north-east and to the proposed Inland Rail - North Star (NSW) to Queensland border project.

The project spans two local government areas including the Toowoomba Regional Council and Goondiwindi Regional Council areas.

Yes. ARTC referred the project to the Australian Government Environment Minister for consideration under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and it was determined that the project is a controlled action.

The State’s evaluation report on the EIS will assess environment matters and make recommendations for the Australian Government to then consider in finalising the evaluation.

The B2G project will be a design and construct contract funded by ARTC. The broader Inland Rail Program (including the B2G project) has Australian Government funding.

ARTC has Australian Government funding in grant and equity funds for the full delivery of the Inland Rail Program (including the B2G project).

An EIS is the highest form of environmental assessment in Queensland. It involves a rigorous assessment of environmental, social and economic impacts.

Broadly an EIS is a rigorous and comprehensive environmental impact assessment of a project, involving whole-of-government coordination and public consultation.

An EIS is prepared in accordance with the terms of reference for the EIS and is publicly notified.

The EIS provides a comprehensive description of:

• the current environment in the area of the project
• all potential environmental, social and economic impacts of the project
• proponent proposals to avoid, minimise, mitigate and/or offset those potential impacts.

The impacts include direct, indirect and cumulative impacts resulting from the construction, commissioning, operation and decommissioning of the project.

The State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 sets out the EIS process for declared coordinated projects. The Act states that, after the terms of reference for an EIS is finalised, a proponent has 18 months to provide an EIS that is accepted as addressing the terms of reference. This can require several rounds of public consultation.

Timeframes for assessment of the final EIS vary depending on project complexities and the standard of information provided by proponents.

If a proponent needs additional time to prepare and finalise the EIS, they can request an extension of time to the 18-month period allowed for under the Act.

Details of the timeframes granted for the proponent are available on the government’s EIS process.

When an EIS is accepted as ‘final’ the evaluation of the EIS proceeds, taking into consideration submissions received, and an evaluation report on the project’s EIS is produced.

The terms of reference for the project state what ARTC must include in the draft EIS, including assessments of traffic, noise, air quality, flora, fauna and flooding. As well as an assessment of the social and economic effects of the project.

The terms of reference also include specific requirements for public consultation to understand specific detail about people’s concerns. ARTC are required to address in the   EIS those concerns and the proposed approach to avoid, reduce, manage or mitigate those concerns.

On 29 November 2019 the Australian and Queensland Governments signed a Bilateral Agreement for Inland Rail which will enable the delivery of the project in Queensland.

The Queensland Government through the Department of Transport and Main Roads is working collaboratively with the Australian Rail Track Corporation on environmental planning of the state's requirements and statutory approvals.

The Act and the Regulation prescribe certain activities as 'regulated activities' that are likely to have a widespread and irreversible impact on an area of regional interest. The Act and the Regulation do not apply to Queensland Inland Rail projects as these are not 'regulated activities' under the Act or the Regulation. There is no proposal to amend the Act or Regulation in this regard.

Potential impacts on strategic cropping land will be fully considered and assessed by the Coordinator-General in the evaluation of the environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Inland Rail projects. The Coordinator-General encourages all affected landholders and communities to make submissions on the draft EISs for the Inland Rail projects to ensure all impacts are adequately considered.  The proponent for the Inland Rail project, the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), has been required to detail the potential impacts on strategic cropping land and propose avoidance and mitigation measures in the EIS.

On 17 September 2019, the Senate announced an inquiry into various aspects of Inland Rail. The matter was referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee to consider the management of the Inland Rail project by the ARTC and the Commonwealth Government. The Senate report was tabled on 11 August 2021 which included 26 recommendations.

The Commonwealth Government response to the report was released on 16 December 2021.

Details of the EIS assessment process, including the project’s initial advice statement, terms of reference and draft EIS documents, are available for viewing at the department’s website.

You can also contact the government’s EIS process team at  inlandrailb2g@coordinatorgeneral.qld.gov.au.

For more information regarding the B2G project, other sections of Inland Rail, and ARTC refer to InlandRailQld@ARTC.com.au.