Narromine protesters make noise at inaugural Inland Rail Conference in Parkes

Twelve protesters from Narromine, Burroway, Curban and Baradine gathered at Cooke Park to protest the “considerable flaws” in the processes involved in selecting the route for  the Inland Rail project. 

Member of the Narromine Rail Action Group and High Park resident Jennifer Knop said it was a civil protest, which sought to capture the ears of key figureheads visiting the region last week. 

“They say they're listening, but they're not hearing us properly,” Mrs Knop said. 

“We’re all connected groups, from here up to South East Queensland,” Ms Knop said of the groups protesting in Parkes on Wednesday.

“We are asking for an independent inquiry into how they selected the routes and a review of that, we are challenging them strongly on their data.”

Mrs Knop said the process is severely flawed, the length of track required is incorrect, the length of the floodplains they have to converse is majorly underestimated.

“It doesn’t stack up. No matter where you look at it, it doesn't stack up,” she said. 

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said he understands why farmers are protesting over the Inland Rail route but they needed to consider the “greater good” of the inland rail project.

“I’m the son of a generational farming family, I know when telegraph poles and electricity wires were being put through my father’s property that it was concerning, but for the greater good we accepted the fact that this was happening,” Mr McCormack said.

“It’s part and parcel of nation building infrastructure, I’ve spoken to Gilgandra farmers and farmers along the route, there are certainly some concerned farmers at Stockinbingal and Illabo further south.

“I understand that and we are narrowing the corridor down to 60 metres and that will ease the concerns of some farmers.”

“We have used existing track and existing corridors and alignment as much as possible but there will be some greenfield rail, there will be that prospect of the rail going through some properties and we will continue to work with those farmers to make sure they understand the benefits that inland rail will bring,” Mr McCormack said.

Mrs Knop said they “will not stop fighting.”

“It’s too important and these farming communities further up the track from us, they need this infrastructure, but they need it in the right place.”