THE prospect of an inland rail line to service the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area food bowl area and beyond is not dead in the water, according to Leeton Shire Council mayor Paul Maytom.
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Councillor Maytom is part of the Food Bowl Inland Rail Alliance (FBIRA) that was set up last year to re-open the discussion of having an inland rail system pass through Narrandera. The idea would be to service not only the Leeton, Narrandera and Griffith food bowl area, but the shires and cities of Mitchell, Moira and Greater Shepparton in Victoria and Berrigan, Urana and Jerilderie.
The FBIRA has been working to have the food bowl option given full and proper due dilligence by the federal government after it had originally decided to go with a route through Albury Wodonga.
There has been no movement to develop that route, with FBIRA spending the past year gathering information to show why this area would be the better alternative
Inland Rail Implementation Group chairman John Anderson has given his assurance the matter will be looked at by the government.
Cr Maytom was pleased the issue was back on the table.
“A lot of people have been working long and hard on this,” he said.
“All we wanted was for due dilligence to carried out.
“We simply believe having the line go through Narrandera would be a much better option.
“When you look at the numbers and projections, the amount of road freight is expected to triple by 2050, so it’s important we look at other options because the system just can’t handle it.
“We are a developing world and the food and manufacturing production in our area is only going to increase. That is why it is vital this considered with due diligence like we have been after.
“It’s good to have it back on the table now and our information, including from our consultants, out there to be seen,” Cr Maytom said.