THE new year has begun and it means it’s back to work for many. It also means that repair work from the damage and the spill caused by the derailment east of Julia Creek can begin.
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Queensland Rail staff have had a chance to see the site properly this week, along with acting premier Jackie Trad.
The train carried mored than 800,000 litres of sulphuric acid belonging to Incitec Pivot when 26 wagons derailed on December 27.
Until yesterday it was believed the spill came from one of the carriages, but it was announced on Wednesday morning that another carriage had a minor leak.
Derailments are often known to happen on the rail corridor but of course the danger of the acid, especially in such wet conditions, has resulted in more media attention, local concern and police presence.
Local landholders have expressed concern about not being informed about the spill. Local council staff have had to tell them although arguably it was not their responsibility to do so.
The corridor remains closed and until the deviation next week it will remain so.
This is an economic concern and means that Mount Isa Mines and Incitec Pivot are unable to get to the Port of Townsville.
Such a derailment in wet conditions suggests a vulnerability that needs to be fixed. Local politicians and economic groups have highlighted the importance of the rail corridor between Mount Isa and Townsville and the need for constant improvement to the line. But the acting Premier Jackie Trad and the Queensland Rail CEO say that about $50 million was spent on the corridor last year. More money of course could be spent in a perfect world, the acting premier acknowledged. It was unclear to spokespeople including Mount Isa to Townsville Economic Zone president David Glasson what caused the crash. But to us it’s not a far stretch to assume rainfall or water was a factor.
