Inland Rail - Border to Gowrie

Project overview*

EIS status	EIS active
Description	216 kilometre single-track dual-gauge freight railway
Proponent	Australian Rail Track Corporation Limited
Location/s	Queensland Border to Gowrie. Map
Local government/s	Goondiwindi Regional Council Toowoomba Regional Council
Investment	$1.4 billion
Key features	145 kilometres of new dual-gauge track and 71 kilometres of upgraded track to accommodate double stack freight trains up to 1800 metres long construction of rail infrastructure, 34 bridges, and five crossing loops connection to the existing West Moreton System and Interstate railway lines ancillary works including road and public utility crossings and realignments.
Expected completion	2026
Jobs	400 (construction)

* Project information supplied by proponent and subject to change.

Frequently asked questions

The Coordinator-General has prepared responses to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the EIS process for the Inland Rail – Border to Gowrie project.

Environmental impact statement (EIS) process

Date	Activity
Currently	Draft EIS and submissions being assessed.
14 May 2021	Coordinator-General stated a new project declaration lapse date of 1 February 2022.
23 January 2021 to 4 May 2021	Draft EIS public consultation. Draft EIS, including appendices.
15 July 2020	Coordinator-General stated a new project declaration lapse date of 27 May 2021.
15 May 2020	Coordinator-General stated a new project declaration lapse date of 16 July 2020.
16 November 2018	Terms of reference for EIS ( 315 KB) released
7 May - 18 June 2018	Draft Terms of reference for EIS public consultation ( 300 KB)
9 April 2018	Delegate for the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Energy decided that the project is a 'controlled action' A project that has the potential to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance is called a 'controlled action' and requires approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth).
16 March 2018	Gazettal ( 251 KB) of 'coordinated project' declaration.
2 March 2018	Complete final initial advice statement ( 19 MB), submitted The above has also been split into smaller documents for easier downloading: Final initial advice statement part 1 of 5 ( 4.4 MB), submitted Final initial advice statement part 2 of 5 ( 4.9 MB), submitted Final initial advice statement part 3 of 5 ( 4.9 MB), submitted Final initial advice statement part 4 of 5 ( 4.6 MB), submitted Final initial advice statement part 5 of 5 ( 1 MB), submitted
16 February 2018	Application, including initial advice statement submitted.
16 February 2018	Project referred to Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Energy.

Further information

Read more about the EIS process.

Last updated: Wednesday, Jun 16, 2021