The NSW/Qld Border to Gowrie revised reference design responds to key environmental and social constraints and has been developed in line with engineering standards to produce a feasible rail design that will achieve the performance specifications for Inland Rail and the section.
Key updates following the draft Environmental Impact Statement in 2021
The reference design has been updated in response to:
- submissions received throughout the public notification of the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in 2021
- additional information requirements from the Queensland Coordinator-General
- further consultation with agencies, landowners, communities, technical authorities, councils and other key stakeholders
- additional monitoring, survey, research and analysis aimed at further reducing environmental and property impacts.
Alignment enhancements
Enhancements to the horizontal alignment and vertical gradient of the track for the NSW/Qld Border to Gowrie project have led to significant improvements for the community.
The vertical gradient has been amended to have a maximum gradient of 1 in 80 to be more responsive to the natural topography of the surrounding landscape.
The rail gradient refers to how much the track rises or falls over a specific distance, usually expressed as a ratio like 1 in 80, meaning for every 80 meters of track, it rises or falls by 1 meter.
This has resulted in:
- improved safety outcomes at road rail interfaces from six additional grade separations
- a reduction in property impacts, including removing vehicle short-stacking constraints, where level crossings have been replaced with grade separations
- a reduced fill deficit, external fill requirements and land area needed to construct Inland Rail.
Environmental footprint
Updates to design and construction elements including reduced clearing for State Forest areas will minimise impacts to remnant vegetation and habitats for various species including the koala, south-eastern long-eared bat, and spotted-tailed quoll.
The Inland Rail NSW/Qld Border to Gowrie revised draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is now on public consultation. We are here to help you understand key information, answer any questions you may have and explain how you can make a submission.
Have your say
The revised draft EIS will be available online at the Coordinator-General’s website at www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/inlandrail-b2g It’s important to note that submissions on the revised draft EIS can only be made to the Coordinator-General directly, and not to Inland Rail.
Flooding-related updates
Updates to key infrastructure have been made following extensive additional flood modelling, consultation and environmental surveys including:
- improved drainage design and scour protection measures, particularly in high-risk areas to minimise avoidable erosion, siltation or damage to neighbouring property
- 6km of bridges, scour protection and 600 culverts incorporated into the Condamine River floodplain design
- the proposed bridge over the North Branch (Condamine River) was extended by approximately 250m north in response to community feedback and to further increase flood conveyance
- the Yandilla rail bridge was moved further south and combined with the Grasstree Creek bridge to reduce environmental impacts and further increase flood conveyance
- the number of proposed culverts near the Yandilla grain silos was increased to ensure the drainage channel to the south of the silos has sufficient capacity to convey flood water.
Road-rail interface updates
We’re upgrading passive (signage only) level crossings to active crossings (bells and boom gates) at:
- Kooroongarra Road
- Paton Road
- Nicol Creek Road
- Millwood Road
- Harris Road (involves a road redesign within Pampas)
- Mann Silo Road.
We’re upgrading level crossings to rail-over-road grade separations at:
- Bybera Road
- Gilgai Lane
- Commodore Peak Road and Scragg Road
- Athol School Road.
We’re upgrading level crossings to road-over-rail grade separations at:
- Heckendorf Road
- Owens Scrub Road.
We’re removing level crossings at the following locations to improve safety:
- McDougalls Road
- Hall Road
- Lindenmayer Road.
Other key project updates include:
- addition of a pedestrian level crossing at Yelarbon
- updates to stock routes and associated infrastructure including improvements to key interfaces, widening of stock corridors and inclusion of suitably sized holding yards
- two workforce accommodation facilities, one at Inglewood and one at Yelarbon
- a commitment to improvements to the Yelarbon levee to increase capacity and mitigate potential flood impacts
- a material distribution centre at Whetstone, a temporary construction facility for receiving and distributing material via the existing rial, significantly reducing the truck haulage during construction works.
You can also download this information as a PDF Fact Sheet.
Talk to the Inland Rail team
If you would like to contact Inland Rail’s NSW/Qld Border to Gowrie team, you can either call, send an email or visit one of our offices. We also hold regular events across the region, and you’re welcome to subscribe to our enewsletter.
| Phone | 1800 732 761 during business hours or leave a message and we'll get back to you. |
| inlandrailqld@inlandrail.com.au | |
| Inland Rail Pty Ltd, PO Box 3093, Toowoomba, QLD 4350 | |
| Visit us at these locations: | |
| Toowoomba | 143-145 Margaret Street, Monday to Friday, 8.30am-4.30pm |
| Goondiwindi | 28 Marshall Street, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10am-2pm |
Alternatively, you can fill out the below form, and request a team member to contact you:
