Stakeholder and community engagement has formed an integral part of the Surat Basin Rail, and identified the best alignment for customers, landowners, the community and the local environment.

The Surat Basin Rail Joint Venture focus has been to enhance the benefits and reduce the social, economic and environmental impacts of the project. The team has been working with the local council and relevant government agencies to manage the anticipated growth this project, and others in the area, will bring.

Comment opportunities

The local communities, industry, government and special interest groups have attended briefings, information sessions and public displays and have been encouraged to have their say on the:

• draft Terms of Reference – released for public comment in November 2008.
• draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) – released for public comment from February to March 2009
• supplementary EIS report (SEIS) – released for advisory agency review and comment from March until April 2010.
• Coordinator General’s Report – released December 2010

The team has also been working closely with the local Indigenous groups on the cultural heritage and native title processes.