FAQs

Each Committee will comprise members with a range of backgrounds and interests. Anyone who is able to represent a community, locality or industry can apply for a position on their respective Committee.  ARTC particularly welcomes landowners and residents to consider whether they would like to nominate for appointment to a relevant Committee. In general, Committees will comprise around 12 - 16 Members.

Membership of the Committee is on a voluntary basis, and no payment is made for participation. However, reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses will be provided once approved by the Chair and ARTC.  While Members are not paid, Chairs are remunerated to recognise their extra workload and responsibilities.

Members will be appointed for a period of two years with members able to be appointed for two subsequent terms after which time a member who has served for three terms will not be eligible to serve as a member.

Members will not need to sign confidentiality agreements. However, the Committee will at times be privy to confidential information and that confidential information should not be disclosed. The Chair will advise the meeting where information is considered confidential, and the meeting must decide in advance of considering the information whether to consider it as confidential and be bound by restrictions on disclosure.  A decision by the Committee to recognise or not recognise information as confidential is binding on all Members irrespective of the views of any individual Member. If a Committee determines that information to be discussed or disclosed is of a confidential nature and needs to be considered as such, members of the public attending will be asked to leave the Committee meeting for the duration that the information is considered by Members.

You will need to supply your nomination with a letter signed by an authorised officer of the organisation.

It is not mandatory, however if you feel it will support your nomination you can provide written documentation such as letters or names and signatures from other residents or community members. 

You may nominate for more than one Committee but cannot be appointed to more than one.

All nominations will be assessed by an appropriate independent external organisation and recommendations for appointment made to ARTC. Committee Chairs and Members are appointed by ARTC.

No person who is a sitting Member of Parliament or Councillor, direct family member (spouse, children, and parents) of a sitting MP or Councillor may nominate as a member nor may any person who is employed by a commercial contractor to work on any ARTC Inland Rail project.

Appointed Committee members will be notified in writing, as will those who are not selected. The membership of the Committee will be publicised through appropriate local channels and media and on the Inland Rail website.

ARTC will seek recommendations for the role of Chair for a specific Committee from relevant key stakeholders. As with nominations for Members, an external independent organisation will assess nominations for Chairs and make recommendations to ARTC.   ARTC will review the recommendations and make a decision on whom to approach for the role of Chair. The final appointment will be ARTC’s decision.

The Committee will meet at an appropriate place and time as notified to Committee members by the Chair. It is expected that the Committee will meet no less than quarterly (every 12 weeks) on dates and places set out in advance, but may set meetings on a more frequent basis.

In general, committee meetings will be open to public observers. Observers are encouraged to register. The Chair may invite other persons on an ad-hoc basis to address the Committee on particular agenda items. The Chair and ARTC may also identifiy and invite individuals who have significant understanding of the local area or specialist knowledge to attend committee meetings from time to time, as relevant, and actively contribute to those meetings.

The Chair is the only person authorised to speak to the media on behalf of the Committee.  Members cannot make comments to the media on behalf of the Committee but may make comments to the media in their capacity as individuals not as Committee Members. 

You can apply for both Committees, and ARTC will determine the most appropriate Committee, based on other nominations and ensuring appropriate representation on each Committee. However, a person may not be appointed as a Member to serve simultaneously on more than one Committee.  A person may simultaneously serve as Chair of more than one Committee if it is considered beneficial for this to occur.