The council made a submission to the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into road and rail infrastructure pricing last week that highlighted the increased noise, dust, visual impacts and increased potential for traffic accidents likely to result from the duplication of a local rail line servicing the coal industry.

The council said 55km of coal trains would be passing by the town of Blackwater every day.

“These matters have been discussed with the relevant authorities but it is an uphill battle to get a commitment to resolve the issues,” council chief executive Dom Carroll said.

The council put a resolution to the Central Queensland Local Government Association in April this year, which was carried unanimously.

The motion proposed the association support local governments with communities affected by air and noise pollution and unsightly railway facilities in lobbying the Queensland Government and Queensland Rail for a resolution to the problem.

Research produced by the council suggested rail traffic in Duaringa Shire will increase by 300% when the line duplication is completed.

The council said this growth had not been matched by efforts to ameliorate air and noise pollution or improve the lifestyle or aesthetics in communities near coal rail lines.

“Notwithstanding that they collect massive amounts in royalties, the State Government neatly avoids involvement by passing the buck to QR, who in turn say that they can’t afford to spend any money on such matters because they have to make a profit for the

State Government,” the council said.