The first Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Inland Rail project has been released, giving members of the public a more detailed look at the project details for the construction and operation of the Parkes to Narromine section of the track.
The 106-kilometre Parkes to Narromine section is to utilise existing ARTC operated track. It will undergo extensive upgrades, including the replacement of bridges and culverts, enhanced level-crossings and three new crossing loops at Goonumbla, Peak Hill, and Timjelly. A new 6-kilometre long connection to the Broken Hill line west of Parkes is to be added.
Federal infrastructure and transport minister Darren Chester said that the release of the EIS would enable the public to have their say on the development of the project.
“The EIS will ensure the community’s voices are heard, and issues relevant to the successful delivery of Inland Rail are taken into account,” Chester said.
Melinda Pavey, NSW minister for roads, maritime and freight, said that Inland Rail would open up a “corridor of opportunity” for regional areas such as Parkes, which would be “uniquely positioned” to experience economic benefits from the development.
“Inland Rail is expected to increase the volumes of grain, cotton, chilled beef and other commodities being moved by rail,” Pavey said.
“It will make it easier to move freight from farms, mines, and ports to NSW, national, and overseas markets.”
The EIS provides an assessment of the environmental and socio-economic impacts the Parkes to Narromine track upgrades are expected to have during construction and when the line is in operation.
For instance, the report states that the main potential impact on biodiversity will be the clearing of native vegetation upon the construction site.
“At this stage of the design, it is estimated that the proposal would require the permanent removal of 75.8 hectares of native vegetation,” the EIS report states.
However, according to the EIS assessment, there will not be any significant impact to ecological communities listed under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) or the EPBC Act, as there will only be small decreases to these communities in areas of scattered clearance across a long construction site.
“ARTC is committed to minimising the environmental impacts of the proposal,” the report states. “The area of direct impact would be further refined during detail design, with the aim of reducing the amount of vegetation clearing required as far as practicable.”
Some impacts to land use are to be expected during the construction phase, such as temporary disruption along the construction corridor for construction areas, compounds and haulage routes.
Moreover, acquisitions of privately-owned land will be required for the construction and continuing operation of the Parkes north-west connection.
The socio-economist benefits mentioned in the report include increased employment and training opportunities, and various flow on impacts on the local economy.
The report states that the Inland Rail, once in operation through the area, will provide better access to and from regional markets, enable regional economic development along the corridor, and provide “safety and amenity benefits” as freight moves onto rail and off the roads.
ARTC is inviting residents from Parkes, Peak Hill and Narromine to attend information sessions in early August about the development.
Programme delivery director for Inland Rail, Simon Thomas, said that project team members would be present at the sessions to answer questions about the EIS.
“ARTC has been working closely with the community for the past 18 months. We are very grateful for the support, feedback and land access they have provided which has helped us draft the EIS,” Mr Thomas said.
“The information sessions are open to everyone and I encourage people to come and learn more about this exciting project for Australia.”
Consultation for the Parkes to Narromine project EIS will close on 18 August.
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