“The noise of each carriage banging together when stopping and starting is equivalent to the noise of a jack hammer … and Aurizon are proposing to do this up to 20 times every 24 hours, if plans for a remote train crew depot at Rosewood are approved.”
Those comments come from Rachael and David Schunemann who live at 85 Mill Street, next door to the depot and carpark, which Aurizon Operations Limited have applied for a permit from the Ipswich City Council to build on the vacant allotment at 83 Mill Street.
Aurizon is the country’s largest rail freight operator and are responsible for hauling coal along the line which runs through the town of Rosewood.
The company approached the Council about establishing the depot in Mill Street in November last year and are currently going through the process of applying for a permit to build it on land owned by the Rosewood Bowls Club.
In an application lodged in early April, town planning agents for Aurizon noted that the proposed depot would cater for approximately 30 to 40 drivers which would represent 15 to 20 sign-ons per day (24 hours) and house no more than seven people at any one time. “The proposed train crew depot will be required for operations from the end of Q2 2024 for a period of up to 10 years in association with existing contracts with Aurizon’s coal customers,” it was noted in the documents uploaded with the application.
If Council approves the development permit to rezone the property to ‘major utility’ demountable building with a verandah and access ramp will be located on site and a carpark with 16 sealed carparking spaces will be constructed.
Internally, the building will be designed with a sign-in area, two workstations, a small meeting room, a crib area and staff amenities.
Immediately prior to the arrival of a train, the crew will walk from the depot across Mill Street to the crew change point within the rail corridor and the departing train crew will go back to the depot to sign-off before leaving the site.
While a noise assessment report was commissioned by Aurizon as part of the application, to assess the impact to nearby properties of the noise caused during the construction phase and the operation of the depot.
“What hasn’t been assessed is the impact of the noise caused by the stopping and starting of trains,” says Mrs Schunemann.
It’s an impact that will affect the whole town, Mrs Schunemann believes.
As the land where the depot is proposed to be built is currently zoned ‘recreation’, a rezoning to ‘major utility’ under the Ipswich Planning Scheme is code assessable (not impact assessable) and therefore the applicant isn’t obliged to advertise its intentions.
“The proposal is for the trains to stop and start on the rail corridor alongside this compound. This means up to 20 trains with 40 to 50 carriages each, every day will be stopping and taking off alongside all our houses in Mill Street,” Mrs Schunemann said.
“The noise of each carriage banging together when stopping and starting is equivalent to the noise of a jack hammer.”
Concerned about the impact on the quality of their life and the value of their property, the Schunemann’s contacted Mayor Teresa Harding’s office. They were redirected to the Council’s town planners.
“We have spoken to the town planner in charge of the application who proceeded to tell us that they don’t care about the noise that the trains will make as it’s on the rail corridor,” Mrs Schunemann said.
“We are seeking help to get the word out to the community as this is going to affect our living quality, our land and property prices.
“It is also going to be stopping opposite the Showgrounds camping facility. This is going to stop people coming to stay in our town.”
The Schunemanns have spoken with an Aurizon representative and suggested that the depot be located at the far end of Mill Street to minimise the impact on town residents and visitors.
“We were told that 83 Mill Street was chosen because there is already a siding in place,” Mrs Schunemann said.
“But it’s not like a proper siding, there’s just a gravel pathway.”
