I note with interest the single page advertisement (The Courier, June 24) in regard to the Inland Rail near Narrabri and add my support to that advertisement.
I only recently became aware of the very significant concerns raised by many Narrabri residents and have looked closely at the submissions against the currently proposed route.
I find it beyond belief that ARTC is not prepared to listen to the advice of highly qualified engineers who have many decades of experience in water flow management in and around Narrabri and I find it equally unbelievable that ARTC is not heeding the advice of the Narrabri Shire Council Floodplain Risk Management Committee of Narrabri Shire Council who, in their submission dated February 7, 2021 made it very clear they were opposed to the ARTC proposed route with the following quote from that submission being particularly relevant – “the Flood Committee is supportive of IR, howeve, not in the proposed location immediately downstream of the Narrabri township and crossing the Namoi River Floodplain in the widest location available.
“It seems counter-intuitive to cross Bohena Creek with a bridge near the Newell, then the Namoi River, the Island Road floodplain (on an angle), Narrabri Creek and the floodplain between Wee
Waa Road and Auscott sheds, with an enormous bridge immediately downstream of the town”.
I am yet to speak with anyone who is against the Inland Rail project, however I am also yet to speak to anyone with a practical understanding of floodplain management in and around Narrabri who supports the proposed ARTC route.
As a long standing member of the National Party and as the Wee Waa branch chairman I applaud the initiative of Inland Rail but I also call on parliamentary members of the National Party at both state and federal levels to listen to professional local knowledge regarding the routing of the rail at Narrabri.
Kerry C Watts, Chairman
Wee Waa Branch
National Party of Australia (NSW)
