Looking east along Box Ridge Road, Mount Tenandra. Source: Inland Rail

THE AUSTRALIAN Government has granted approvals for the Narromine to Narrabri project, the longest section of the Inland Rail.

This follows New South Wales Government approval and is a key step in the staged approach agreed to by the Australian Government in its response to the recommendations made by Kerry Schott for getting the delivery of Inland Rail back on track.

The approval will underpin the next stage of the design for the Narromine to Narrabri project, a section comprising over 300kms of new track in mid-north-western NSW.

Inland Rail director pre-contracts, Rob Storey, said this step helps provide more certainty that Inland Rail can be built to an agreed budget and time frame.

“The Narromine to Narrabri project is Inland Rail’s longest stretch of new rail and is a key link in the future Inland Rail supply chain and less than 24-hour freight transit time for goods between Melbourne and Brisbane,” Mr Storey said.

“Now that we have a full suite of approval conditions, the survey and investigation activities are critical inputs to the next stage of design and securing the land needed for the Narromine to Narrabri project corridor.”

When constructed, the Narromine to Narrabri project will link the completed Parkes to Narromine and Narrabri to North Star Phase 1 projects, providing new freight capacity and improved connectivity to ports on the east coast and westwards via Parkes to Adelaide and Perth.

Mr Storey said, moving forward, the Narromine to Narrabri project team will continue to engage with NSW and local government and the community as we undertake necessary activities to further inform the design of the Narromine to Narrabri project.

“Inland Rail acknowledges the important input from the community, local landowners and businesses during the approvals process and remains committed to working with stakeholders.

“Inland Rail will support the shift of more goods onto rail, meaning faster, more reliable freight; safer, less congested roads; and fewer emissions.”

These activities include surveys and on-site investigations to help provide more certainty that Inland Rail can be built to an agreed budget and schedule.

Inland Rail is committed to ensuring that the final design of the project addresses and appropriately mitigates potential impacts to environment and social amenity in accordance with the approvals of the Federal and NSW governments.

Source: Inland Rail