THE State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) has raised significant safety and traffic concerns over the industrial site that will house a planned Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), warning the development could put the Karrabin Rosewood Road railway level crossing at risk.
The latest feedback, issued 18 September in relation to DA 2449/2025/MCU, applies to the wider industry area, which would include the BESS (area 7, far west of the site map). The BESS itself is subject to DA 7150/2025/CA, which is expected to receive its own feedback from SARA shortly.
In a notice to Ipswich Asset Management Pty Ltd and their consultants, Urbis, SARA said the development’s traffic modelling and roadworks plans do not adequately address risks to the Main Line railway corridor.
The crossing sees an average of 77 passenger and freight trains per day. Without revised mitigation measures, SARA warned, both safety and congestion issues could arise, particularly during peak construction periods.
SARA highlighted that current designs fail to account for heavy B-Double truck traffic during construction or potential impacts on access to the Karrabin Station car park.
The agency recommended detailed engineering plans, certified by a registered professional engineer (RPEQ), demonstrating how the roadworks would integrate with railway signals, level crossing infrastructure, and ongoing train operations.
Queensland Rail has also expressed concerns, citing co-ordination issues with flashing lights, boom barriers, and longer traffic queues caused by steep gradients approaching the crossing. SARA noted that the preliminary traffic report acknowledges “the right turn from the north onto J Hanson Rd does not give adequate clearance for a B-Double and the rail crossing,” with swept-path assessments showing trucks can only enter J Hanson Rd when no opposing traffic is present.
The agency also questioned the inclusion of cycle lanes and footpaths, as well as broader effects on state-controlled roads, including potential impacts on the Warrego Highway interchanges.
The preliminary approval assessment indicated that traffic from the site could affect areas north of the highway interchanges, yet these areas were not included in the net delay assessment, leaving a gap in the evaluation of potential congestion.
SARA has urged the applicant to respond promptly with revised traffic assessments and engineering layouts. The agency warned that, without this information, the application will be assessed based on the material submitted to date, which may not fully address public safety and operational risks.The BESS plant is intended for medium- and low-impact industry, research and technology, and warehouse operations. Assessment also includes potential impacts on koala habitats outside priority zones.
