Inland Rail - Narromine to Narrabri

Submission Attached

Peter Shepherdson
8 - 10 Bohena Lane
NARRABRI NSW 2390

We agree that the Inland Rail is going to mean a lot for our regional communities as far as jobs, boost to economy and being an asset to the people in the area.
The problem for us is that we will lose our property and our two homes. The closest house to the rail corridor is only 20 metres. Our second home and granny flat are 55m from the rail corridor. We are dealing with a huge issue because our property is not directly impacted by the corridor, it’s on the neighbours, however our lifestyle and health will be dramatically impacted. Noise, vibration and loss of property value are a huge concern for us and we have not received an indication that our property falls into the category of compensation.
We have an ideal lifestyle with our family being able to live the way we do with our son and daughter in law living next door and our grandson living in our granny flat. If Inland Rail has to buy our property due to the proximity to the rail corridor, we are extremely concerned that we are not going to be able to find land where we can duplicate our lifestyle. We are close to town, have town water, all weather road, out of flood reach and have small acreage to run our horses. It is distressing that we haven’t been able to receive information from Inland Rail about what will happen to us when the project starts being built.
We have a sentimental attachment to the property as it was gifted to us by Audrey’s parents – There is no dollar amount that can compensate for this loss. With the current house and land market we are very concerned we won’t be able to afford a property with all of the infrastructure we currently have if Inland Rail chooses to buy us out - the property has incredible mountain views, a bore which we are able to irrigate with, sheds and an entertainment area with all the specifications we have always wanted.
Another concern we have is if we stay at our home, is where the pylons of the viaduct will be and the increased traffic during construction are a huge safety concern.
We have worked out whole lives to get what we have and it is incredibly distressing to understand that it will be taken from us or even worse, we will have to live within 20 metres of a railway which will have detrimental effects on our lifestyle but in particular our health.

Please see attached objection to the N2N Route

We object to the Inland Rail in its current state as it does not benefit Inland Communities in New South Wales. When there is a Nation building project of this size being built I would have thought it was there for the purpose of Nation building not just Melbourne, Brisbane and a couple of cities in between.
Farmers are resilient but we have endured droughts and floods and to not be included in the benefits of the Inland Rail seems absurd. They say farmers are the backbone of our nation and that farmers need to be looked after. I don't see that when at every opportunity we are screwed and here again with Inland Rail we see no benefits with a train that does not include towns like Gilgandra, Coonamble, Dubbo etc.

Inland Rail Submission

Friends of the Pilliga is a small long standing environmental group based in Coonabarabran. We have a close connection with the Pilliga, enjoying it for its natural diversity and its recreational values. Our concerns have always focused around environmental issues.

It is our considered opinion that:
1 In its current form the Inland Rail project, linking Brisbane and Melbourne should not go ahead,
2 Should it go ahead, it is wrong to route it through 50km of The Pilliga, and
3 The Pilliga is irreplaceable and is threatened by the project

The wrong project
• What was proposed by Everald Crompton in 1996 was to be a mechanism to support the economic development and export potential of rural areas. It was to use “a mixture of existing rail, road and power corridors, plus some new connecting corridors” and eventually extend from Melbourne to Darwin via the port of Gladstone.
• This project does none of these things
• It does not go to the ports of either Melbourne of Brisbane.
• In the Narromine to Narrabri section it does not use existing corridors but heedlessly cuts across existing farms causing massive disruption as well as destroying extensive areas of public forests.
• There will be little benefit to communities in the regions because it will not stop along its route. Freight hubs will be needed to enable regional produce to access the route. These are not funded under the plan and must be financed separately. Freight trains from these hubs will need to be slotted in between the non-stop trains.
• Electric trucks are increasingly competitive with diesel. They are much more flexible with regard to delivery destinations than rail transport and will become even cheaper. The Inland Rail runs a serious risk of becoming a stranded asset or at least increasingly uneconomic.
• Recent studies from Germany have shown that 99% of all currently diesel-operated regional rail lines in Europe can be operated with a currently available battery or fuel cell vehicle. And to move freight the long distances needed here electrification of the line would be required to replace diesel. Even the use of hydrogen would be as expensive as diesel.
• Building an electrified very fast train Melbourne-Canberra-Sydney would give better value for money and better climate outcomes.


The wrong route
• The Inland Rail should not go through the Pilliga.
• A number of alternatives were considered for the section of the route between Dubbo/Narromine and Narrabri. One of these used an existing rail corridor through Gwabegar and other private land to Narrabri. According to the EIS this was rejected because there was less potential for conflict with landholders if it went through the forest. That may be so but there is much more potential for causing permanent environmental damage.
• The Pilliga is the last remaining large example of temperate woodland in NSW. As such it is a refuge area for a rich diversity of native flora and fauna, communities and ecosystems. The Inland Rail – Narromine to Narrabri EIS acknowledges this. It has been identified by the Commonwealth Government as one of only 15 National Biodiversity Hotspots and by Birdlife Australia as a globally significant Bird Area. Every development within it contributes to the sacrificing of these irreplaceable natural areas which are becoming rarer throughout the entire world.
• Cumulative impact studies consider only the Narrabri Gas Project (NGP). It is acknowledged that its associated APA Western Slopes Pipeline and the Silverleaf Solar Farm will have impacts but these are not taken into account.
• Recent IPC approval of the NGP has encouraged increasing reactivation of Petroleum Exploration Licences (PELs) throughout the region by Comet Ridge and others. These too will have impacts should they go ahead.
• The nearby Australian Wildlife Conservancy Saving Our Species project has similarly been ignored and yet the construction of the 30km fence around the 6000ha predator free area has already led to the destruction of an estimated 28 000 hollow-bearing trees within the Pilliga. Estimates of the number of trees with hollows to be removed by this project may be even greater than this. As will the Narrabri Gas Project. This will result in massive cumulative effect on the native forests. Given the importance of hollows for birds, arboreal mammals and bats it is unconscionable that this project should go through the forest.
• Neither the NGP nor the IR will be able to mitigate their impacts on the natural environment and will thus require like-for-like offsets. Suitable tracts of land are increasingly rare throughout the North West and none are as large as the Pilliga. There will not be enough for both projects and the actual protected natural areas will be a lot less when they finish compared with when they started. And fragmentation will be increased.
• Fast-moving trains up to 4km in length will have potential for a high level of collision mortality along the route of the rail. In the EIS this is dismissed as “Unlikely”. Another cumulative impact on the fauna of the Pilliga.
• Aboriginal Heritage has been addressed on the basis of individual sites. In actuality Indigenous culture has a holistic view of the significance of landscape. Aboriginal groups have indicated that consultation has been superficial.
• Each new development going through the Pilliga increases access to feral animals and weeds. Part of the Binnaway-Gwabegar railway route adjacent to a section of the Pilliga Nature Reserve near Yearinan is a case in point. African Lovegrass has a dense unpalatable growth which crowds out native grasses and the species which depend on them. It is spreading along the railway line and thence into the adjacent protected areas. This grass is also the most common species found on well pads, along frequently used roads and along the highway. It will now have increasing access thanks to the Inland Rail.

The EIS
• The EIS compares favourably with the Santos NGP EIS in that it is more honest in its assessments accepting and addressing a greater range of risks.
• The NGP is shown on maps throughout the EIS as a spot. In fact it covers an area of around 90 000ha and there is overlap of about 20km with the IR route. The extent of the project should be shown on all relevant maps.
• The EIS plans to address cumulative impacts by “providing biodiversity offsets”. It is apparent that with the increasing developments and their associated fragmentation of the Pilliga sufficient like-for-like offsets do not exist, especially when the advantages of the size of the Pilliga are considered.
• The environmental risk assessment seems only to require assessing risk to the project not risk to biodiversity, general environment, economy or society. In fact it underestimates the impacts it is likely to cause.
• Predicted water drawdown is described as “within the bounds of natural variability.” In fact the water is lost to the system and is actually “on top of” natural variability.
• Level crossings without warning lights are a danger to vehicular traffic through the forest at night. The headlight on the locomotive is long gone and the dark moving train is not easily visible. I know this from personal experience. This is much less of a problem in more open country.

Conclusion
Technical Report 1 acknowledges just how important the Forests of the Pilliga are for the maintenance of biodiversity. Results of surveys that were carried out as part of the assessment process, similarly indicate the value of the Pilliga, not just for threatened species but also for more common, though declining, species. It has international significance as an Area of Outstanding Biodiversity Importance. To sacrifice such an ecologically significant area will only hasten the extinction crisis in Australia.

The object of the project as it stands is to carry freight within 24 hours between Melbourne and Brisbane. For that the government is prepared to sacrifice the viability of landholders along the route and one of the few remaining inland natural areas. For the sake of landholders and the environment this section of the project should be diverted along existing rail corridors. It should not go through the Pilliga.

Jane Judd
Convenor
Friends of the Pilliga
3 February 2021

We strongly object to the current alignment of the Inland Rail.

I object to the Narromine to Narrabri section of the Inland Rail because alternative routes are available using existing rail routes. These would minimise the impacts on the farming community and on the environment.

The Pilliga Forest, the largest inland woodland in NSW, is a refuge for plants and animals. Critically endangered birds, including the regent honeyeater and swift parrot, inhabit the area. Koalas are vulnerable to extinction and endangered mammals include the black-striped wallaby, the spotted-tail quoll and the endemic Pilliga mouse.

This rail line will divide even further the north east part of the Forest from the rest. Wildlife will not only be impacted from the clearing of habitat for the rail line but also from light, noise and habitat fragmentation. Known pathways between shelter, food and water will be interrupted.

The only animals to thrive in this fragmented environment will be feral animals with small species, such as the Pilliga mouse, becoming more vulnerable.

GrainCorp Limited (GrainCorp) supports the proponent Australian Rail Track Corporation Limited (ARTC) for construction and operation of the 306km Narromine to Narrabri (N2N) section of the Inland Rail project (the Project), which includes rail track and associated facilities in a new rail corridor.
GrainCorp has reviewed the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Project as it relates to its grain storage and handling sites at Narwonah, Narromine, Curban, Gwabegar and Narrabri. The review also considers impacts to the wider grain growing districts surrounding the Project extent.
The review identified areas where the EIS fails to adequately assess impacts, where additional information is expected to be provided by the proponent and outlines those areas of importance to GrainCorp where a role in future consultation is warranted.

Please see the attached submission, which is submitted on behalf of our clients Brett and Leanne Lummis.

Please find attached submission for Inland rail N2N EIS with outlined concerns and comments

Dear Mr Fallon,
Please find attached is our submission to Inland Rail Inquiry
DK KA SD McBurnie
Weealla
Balladoran NSW 2822

We want to know why it has not been put further out of town when there is an alternative route that would cause lot less impact and less dangerous

We have significant concerns regarding the positioning of the new inland rail line. We feel the current position will be detrimental to the town in certain areas. The areas of concern are the properties near the golf course, the main shopping center and the community along Wee Waa road. We feel the line should be moved further from the residential portion of town. We, as land holders within 1km of the proposed line will lose a substantial amount of money from the detrimental affect the line will have on our property market. The area we built our house in is the Bespoke region of Narrabri with house prices remaining high over the last 6 Years, however, after consultation with numerous Real Estate agents, it is clear that the property prices will fall significantly. We as property holders have NOT been contacted or provided any information regarding the position until Thursday the 4th Of Feb with submissions closing on Sunday the 7th. We would like to know why the line cannot be moved further to the north to a more rural setting. We also are concerned of the movement of water in the next flood event as we are between the Namoi River and the Narrabri Creek at the low end of town - Houses are built up 1.5m to be above 1 in 100 year events.
The positioning also limits further subdivision over time in a small town which is currently seeing the effects of a mining, gas and agriculture boom in recent years. As a local business owner in the construction industry it seems crazy to have the railway so close to town as it reduces the area which can be developed into residential building areas.
Our next question is why have we had ZERO consultation. As land holders going to be effected we deserve to be told exactly where the new line will go.
We know that this is an amazing project for our town, but there is absolutely zero reasons why it cannot be moved further out of town to effect a less dense residential population. We love our town and would hate to see it become seen as the small country town with the huge train line through the middle.

I support the project, but I’m not supportive of the route it will be taking through the Narrabri Shire. These people have worked hard for the land that they own, some of it being passed down through many generations. Surely there is another way to get this done.

I reject the route proposed by the Inland Rail on the basis of Flooding risk and the social impact to the citizens living in the Narrabri township.
If the rail is sent west of Narrabri as per the proposal of Civil Engineer- Jim Purcell, fewer people would impacted. It does not seem that the Inland Rail has done an adequate job at consulting the community of Narrabri in the choice of the route. I have not heard a single reason yet as to why the rail should go through Narrabri.
I support the project. I support development in the area. I only request more investigation be done on the Narromine to Narrabri route.
Regards,
Narrabri local.

I object to this project as there are many locals who will be negatively impacted by the current planned route of the Inland Rail. There has been an alternative route proposed by council and I strongly urge you to reconsider the current proposal as it will be devastating to those whose properties will be effected.

There is an alternative route further from town which will avoid cutting into properties so close to homes.

Put further out of town as there is an alternative route

This submission is to highlight the extremely detrimental impact the inland rail project is having on the property ‘Nampara’, a premium lifestyle property, at 220 Macquarie View Road Narromine.
The vendors have lived on this property for over 40 years and recently relocated into the township of Narromine.
‘Nampara’ has been on the market since October 2019. As soon as it is mentioned that the inland rail corridor is being built next to the property, all interest from potential purchasers dissipates. This has resulted in no offers being made for the purchase of ‘Nampara’ in the sale campaign to date.
A qualified potential purchaser, who initially was very keen on the property, cancelled an inspection once he found out the Inland Rail line passed next to the property. He then said he felt sorry for the vendors.
The inland rail project has made ‘Nampara’ impossible to sell. The vendors are 78 and 77 years old, and the lack of interest in ‘Nampara’ is having a serious impact on the vendors financial position. This is causing extremely high levels of stress for the vendors, and is causing serious health issues both mentally and physically.
‘Nampara’ was in the initial study area creating doubt as to where the final corridor would lie. Now the EIS has been released, it can be clearly demonstrated that there will be a significant amount of noise and vibration, both day and night, impacting the homes on this property, during the 4 year construction period and continuing in the operational period. In addition, the Macquarie River Bridge and rail line will have a detrimental impact on the visual amenity of ‘Nampara’. Further, the Macquarie River bridge will impact the speed of water flow threatening the river bank, river flats and the massive river red gums on the 800 metres of River frontage enjoyed by the property below the bridge.
The Inland Rail project has had a horrific impact on the property of ‘Nampara’ by destroying the market for this property. The offer of sound proofing the affected buildings is an insult to the vendors considering the market for ‘Nampara’ being destroyed by the Inland Rail project. The situation is causing serious mental and physical health issues for the vendors. We look forward to a response from Inland Rail Corporation.