A local council in New South Wales is calling on the Australian Government to fund what it’s calling the “missing link” of the Inland Rail freight corridor.
Moree Plains Shire Council welcomed the recent news that the New South Wales Government has given its tick of approval for the final leg of Inland Rail in the state – Phase 2 of the Narrabri to North Star section.
However, the Mayor of the council, Susannah Pearse, said funding from the Federal Government is now needed to “turn those ticks into tracks”.
“After the first sections of Inland Rail around Moree Plains were completed in late 2022, the Australian Government put the project’s construction on hold north of Parkes as it reined in cost blowouts and undertook a necessary review,” she said.
“Since then, the only work that has proceeded on the Moree Plains has been in the way of planning and approvals, leaving railway sleepers sitting by the tracks ready to go, without an announcement as to an expected start date – let alone when this project will be ready for use.”
Phase 2 of the Narrabri to North Star section involves the upgrade of approximately 14 kilometres of existing rail track and formation across the Gwydir floodplain and the construction of around 1.6 kilometres of new rail track to bypass the existing Camurra Hairpin, as well as a 1.3 kilometre spur to maintain connection to the Weemelah line.
It follows design and consultancy company Arcadis being awarded the Inland Rail Design Services package for both the Phase 2 and Section 2C works earlier this year.
Inland Rail is a 1600 kilometre freight line that will connect Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Brisbane, which accommodates double-stacked trains that are longer, heavier and more efficient.
However, these new trains are not compatible with old tracks, meaning 22 kilometres of track between Tapscott Road and Camurra is preventing the Moree Plains from being able to properly reap the benefits of the Inland Rail project.
Pearse said the Moree Plains Shire is an “agricultural powerhouse”, contributing over $1 billion of produce to the Australian economy each year, and the completion of the missing link of track will provide immediate, national economic benefit.
“Unlike other parts of the Inland Rail project, we do not need connection to Queensland or Brisbane to be able to deliver value,” she continued.
“As soon as the remaining section is completed in our shire, our growers and bulk handlers will be able to send produce via larger trains to be exported from the Port of Newcastle, delivering an immediate return on government investment.
“Longer term, the Moree Special Activation Precinct – valued at over $200 million and expected to create some 4000 jobs will ensure that these benefits extend beyond just our agriculture industry.”
She said rural regions such as Moree Plains Shire cannot be left behind.
“Council is calling on the Australian Government to back Australia’s most productive agricultural shire by providing the necessary funding to bring this long-delayed train into the station.”
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