Inland rail fast-tracked in NSW, leaving farmers ‘alarmed’ by lack of consultation

The New South Wales government has escalated the inland rail project to “critical state significant” status as part of a raft of measures to get the economy moving.

The move has alarmed key farm lobby groups who say that will stifle community consultation.

NSW Farmers Inland Rail Taskforce Chair Adrian Lyons said the order, announced on March 1, would prevent people from making objections to the project.

“One of the main problems we have had with the ARTC’s [Australian Rail Track Corporation] handling of this project to date is…