Woombye train stables on the nose

By Alan LanderOPPOSITION to proposed rail stabling yards in Woombye for Queensland Rail (QR) passenger trains continues to grow, as local residents discover more information about what is planned.Residents are incensed that, while local representatives were told about the proposal as long ago as 2013, they were only advised in February 2014 with minimal detail.The yards will be situated between Taintons Road and Paynter Creek. Construction starts later this year with a completion date of October 2016.Woombye Against Rail Stabling (WARS) spokesman James Kasmer said he believed the majority of residents were against the proposal, and about 450 local submissions had been lodged in March stating so.Mr Kasmer said there was a valid financial argument against the Woombye proposal when placing them in Nambour was a better prospect."At a community meeting in May 2015, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad told us putting the stabling in Nambour would be 100% dearer than in Woombye," he said."But we have seen the cost by QR - we have run the maths - and if taken into account across 30 years Nambour is $3 million less expensive."Mr Kasmer said his group sought to verify its costs to put forward to the state government .But a QR spokeswoman said the initial cost difference between Nambour and Woombye sites was $16 million."This is based on the final cost for the Woombye site being $17.6m compared with the most recent estimates of building the same facility at Nambour for approximately $33m," she said.The spokeswoman said even when considering ongoing operating costs , Woombye was still the most cost-effective option.Mr Kasmer said he was also disappointed with local State MP Peter Wellington."It wasn't our local member who told us about the yards - it was DTMR (Transport and Main Roads)," he said."When Peter turned up with Councillor Jenny McKay in February 2014 we were told the two had been briefed on the project back in 2013."I have met Peter in his office approximately four or five times [concerning this issue]. He gives the impression he's behind us but this could be the result of him realising, in hindsight, the local community should have been forewarned of the development prior to March 2014."The Gazette contacted Mr Wellington's office for a response and did not receive one prior to the deadline.But Cr McKay said she was on record saying her preferred option for the yards was Nambour." The infrastructure really belongs to Nambour in my view but it’s a QR and state government decision," she said. PHOTOSWARS Woombye Against Rail Stabling Group are fighting to save Woombye.