The closure of a 20km stretch of track has not only put the local multi-billion dollar wheat market into disarray but has put plenty more heavy vehicles onto our struggling road network.

The Moree Plains Shire Council, at its meeting on Thursday, has decided to “object in the strongest possible term to the closure of the Moree-Weemelah rail line”.

The council will inform all relevant ministers and Members of Parliament of its objection and the huge cost impost on the council’s resources to maintain the shire’s road system with the increased road usage.

It was also decided that the council will convene communication initially by electronic means, then later in Mackay in conjunction with the Australian Local Government Association’s National Roads and Transport Congress, a group of bulk grain producing councils with a view of specific funding for grain roads/routes across Australia. For more details see page 3.