SOME endorsements for an $80 billion rail project pitched to the region are unfounded.
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Inverell councillor David Jones made a presentation to Armidale Dumaresq Council at its last meeting as a representative of the company Yamba Port and Rail Australia.
Mr Jones said, while denying being paid by YPR, he was brought into the project as an engineer by Regional Development Australia Northern Inland.
The company YPR, owned by managing director Des Euen, wants council endorsements of the project from Armidale, Glen Innes, Inverell, Uralla and Guyra.
But after an investigation The Armidale Express has revealed several organisations YPR has listed on its website as endorsing the project have not given approval.
One such organisation is engineering consultants Aurecon. YPR’s website names managing director Andrew Keith as giving his support.
But when The Express contacted Mr Keith, who is actually leader of mine services, he said while he spoke with Mr Euen neither he nor Aurecon had given anything resembling an endorsement.
Another apparent endorser is David Liddiard, a prominent indigenous businessman who is a well-known advocate for indigenous issues. But again Mr Liddiard said he had talked with Mr Euen but hadn’t endorsed the project.
Mr Liddiard was very concerned when he discovered there were fears the project could damage a culturally significant reef at the mouth of the Clarence River.
“If it’s going to interfere with indigenous sacred sites then I’m pretty against that,” he said.
Clarence Valley Council, which includes Yamba, told The Express YPR’s website used to feature a logo which implied it supported the project.
A spokesman from that Council said Mr Euen had not provided them with enough information to make an endorsement.
That logo has since been taken down. Another apparent endorsment is from Moree Plains Shire Council.
But while that council supported the project through committee resolution, but its executive projects officer John Carleton said this was different from an endorsement.
“Support is different to an endorsement. It’s an issue of terminology but if Council endorses it would mean we have passed a resolution to endorse it. We have not,” Mr Carleton said.
He said the Council was supportive of the project going ahead but would need to receive a detailed report before it could consider endorsing it.
Mr Euen denied any of the endorsements are false.
“They’re on that list because they endorse it,” he said.
“The thing is endorsed and that is that.”
Among those that endorse the project is Rural Development Australia Northern Inland, which wrote a letter of support earlier this month.
Its chairman and Inverell councillor Mal Peters said plans for an inland freight line has been in the pipeline for years and would be excellent for decentralisation.
“It will also be quicker and more efficient [to develop inland rail] than along the eastern seaboard,” Mr Peters said.
YPR’s plan is to build the Pacific West Railway, which will link freight services from Yamba to Moree, passing through Glen Innes and Inverell.
It forecasts this stage, phase two of the larger project, will be completed by 2023 and cost an estimated $7 billion.
Some Armidale councillors say they are supportive of the idea of rail freight, but would need more information about this project before giving an endorsement.
Armidale Dumaresq Council general manager Glenn Wilcox said, “Council will consider any project that has the potential to boost economic development in the region.
“Council will review the proposal presented to councillors by Cr David Jones from Inverell Council for a rail link from Port Yamba to Moree via Inverell once more detailed information has been received."