MEDIA STATEMENT
1 February 2023
Haines welcomes progress on Euroa rail underpass option
Independent Federal Member for Indi, Dr Helen Haines MP has welcomed the announcement from the Australian Rail Track Corporation that the government agency will be taking further steps to investigate and consult with the community about an underpass as part of the Inland Rail project.
The ARTC announced on Wednesday it would move forward with Euroa’s preferred option of an underpass to replace the Anderson Street Bridge.
The Federal Government’s Inland Rail project will involve double-stacked freight trains travelling between Melbourne and Brisbane, making it necessary to replace the Anderson Street Bridge in Euroa.
Consultation and planning to replace the bridge began in 2019, but the community has made it clear through surveys and consultation that a bigger, higher bridge was not an acceptable replacement.
“This is really encouraging news from the ARTC,” Dr Haines said.
“The community has made its preference for an underpass known for years now and it is a great sign that the ARTC has listened and will be acting on the strong message from the community.”
Dr Haines has spoken with representatives from the ARTC about the announcement and committed to speak further with the organisation as part of the consultation.
“It is really positive that the ARTC will be sharing further information with the community about the underpass, including technical information and visualisations, and take further feedback.
“At the start of this process the community didn’t feel listened to by the ARTC, but this is a huge step forward, both for Inland Rail and for relations between Euroa and the ARTC.
“The people of Euroa have engaged in this process of consultation right from the beginning and I am confident they will continue to work with the ARTC constructively and in good faith.”
Since being first elected in 2019, Dr Haines has worked closely with communities in Indi that will be affected by the Inland Rail project, including Euroa, Benalla, Glenrowan and Wangaratta.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack visited Euroa at the invitation of Dr Haines in 2021, listening to the community about the impact of inland rail on the town.
The ARTC has already announced that it will progress the preferred community option in Benalla, also following a sustained local campaign.