An inaugural Inland Rail summit will be held in Toowoomba in September this year in a bid to maximise benefits for regional communities across the $14.5 billion project’s alignment.

Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio said he saw great benefit in bringing together all councils, as well as industry across the alignment, to share insights and opportunities.

“Inland Rail is a complex project and one that needs the combined effort of local, state and federal governments to be successful,” he said.

“I will also be approaching the new Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King, to invite her to play a central role in the Inland Rail Summit, as I believe this summit is of national significance.

“I have held talks with the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) and they have given me a commitment that they will support the event to the hilt. They see the advantages of having such a large body of stakeholders in the same room to address the issues around Inland Rail.”

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise chief executive officer Ali Davenport said the Inland Rail Summit would establish a forum for collaboration among councils looking to create new economic opportunity, to understand the status of Inland Rail and to discuss opportunities to minimise impacts on local communities.

“There are 36 local government areas along the Inland Rail alignment and businesses and communities are looking for certainty so they can continue to plan and get on with delivering the jobs and economic growth this infrastructure will bring,” Ms Davenport said.

“We are looking to bring as many local government, state and federal government agencies and economic development groups along the route together in September.”