That became clear in a round table meeting, organised in Moree recently by the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail Alliance (MBIRA) and the Border Regional Organisation of Councils (BROC).

State transport representatives from New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland; industry groups such as NSW Farmers, the Australian Logistics Council, the Australasian Railway Association, GATR and Cotton Australia; and industry representatives from Asciano, Thiess and the Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd attended the meeting, as well as several councils along the proposed rail route that the MBIRA is made up, including Moree, Parkes, Toowoomba, Goondiwindi, Gwydir, Inverell and Wagga Wagga.

MPSC deputy mayor Sue Price, who is also the interim vice chair of MBIRA, said a modern, high standard railway from Melbourne to Brisbane had the potential to provide centuries of benefit if the railway was designed for low operating costs and built to world’s best practice.

“Not only will an appropriately designed and delivered inland railway be a boon for agriculture and a catalyst for invigorating the regions, it will also contribute significantly to the competitiveness of our nation,” Cr Price said.

MPSC executive project manager John Carlton said the freight forecast was expected to double by 2020 and triple by 2050 and that the rail line would contribute to safer [less crowded] highways, and provide a safe and secure mode of freight transportation.

He said the meeting was all about stimulating opportunities to get the project off the ground as the time was ripe with the current bipartisan support. 

The Labor Party had already promised $300 million support a while ago and prior to the election the Federal Coalition had done the same.

Mr Carleton said it was integral for the success of the project that many different parties were involved and that the meeting had been a good start, providing a forum for the exchange of ideas.

The alliance would proceed with studies and keep raising the profile of the project, he said.

Studies were important to gain full understanding of the type of freights the future users of the rail line are dealing with (domestic or export), and to research the impact of a rail line on the different communities, what legislation needed to be aware of, what new technologies would contribute to the efficiency of the project and where opportunities for jobs and community development could be integrated, Mr Carleton explained.

The next major step in the profile raising process will be an Inland Rail Symposium early next year, also hosted in Moree.