Inland Rail a must for the region

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) chief executive officer Dr Ben Lyons has highlighted the importance of the nationally significant Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail Project if Australia’s agriculture and agribusiness sector is to fully capitalise on growing global export opportunities.

Dr Lyons said that an inland rail solution was particularly essential for the Toowoomba and wider Darling Downs region to maintain international competitiveness and ensure products get to market more efficiently.

“It’s a great time to be in this region. We are the number one agriculture region in Australia, and with our very own internationally capable airport preparing to welcome regular air freight services later this year, Toowoomba is an engine room of growth for Australian agricultural exports,” Dr Lyons said.

“With the Australia-China Free Trade Agreement coming into effect late last year, Australian food products and produce have never been in higher demand – however now is not time to rest on our laurels.

“Why is it that it costs approximately the same to get some produce from Toowoomba to Brisbane as it does to get the same produce from Brisbane to Shanghai?

“We need an inland rail solution. Without this infrastructure, we will simply lose our international competitiveness.

“Australia currently exports more than 70 per cent of our agricultural production. However, we need to think about where we will be in 10-15 years as the global population grows.

“We already know that if we don’t see increased use of rail systems as part of the agriculture supply chain be it to domestic or international markets, the inevitable growth in freight demand will see increasing pressure on our roads, increased freight costs and lost economic opportunities.

“Australia has a reputation for clean, green and safe produce, but in order for us to maintain that standard we need to have adequate infrastructure to support export logistics.

“Toowoomba is already well on its way to becoming a significant inland port and transport and logistics hub for Australia. We have the air connectivity through Wellcamp Airport and the road connectivity with the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing. Now we need Inland Rail to complete the trifecta of road, rail and air connectivity.”