The contract for feasibility and design work on the Narromine to Narrabri section of the Inland Rail project has been awarded to the joint venture between Jacobs and GHD.
Federal infrastructure and transport minister Michael McCormack said the $13.5 million contract for the work, which will be crucial in identifying engineering solutions on the route, was one of many that would be awarded this year for this NSW section of the freight link.
“Today’s contract award takes the Narromine to Narrabri project another step forward,” McCormack said
“With construction on the Parkes to Narromine project set to commence this year, we are already starting seeing evidence of this in these communities.”
Federal finance minister Mathias Cormann said the contract was an example of the way the Inland Rail project was attracting private sector investment into regional areas.
“There is plenty of community interest in the design of Inland Rail,” Cormann said.
“As these contracts are awarded and feasibility designs progress, more detail will become available, building on preliminary investigations and community engagement already carried out by the ARTC.”
The Narromine-Narrabri section is the longest project of the Inland Rail and comprises approximately 300km of new track. The final 40-60-metre wide rail corridor has yet to be finalised. The feasibility work, along with other studies and assessments towards the development of the section’s the environmental impact assessment, is to begin in the coming months.
“This is critical work which will help to narrow the current preferred study corridor from up to five kilometres to a final alignment of 40-60 metres,” assistant trade minister and member for Parkes Mark Coulton said.
McCormack indicated that local landowner concerns regarding the route between Narromine and Narrabri would continue to inform the planning process.
“I will continue to meet with landholders, and I know the ARTC is consulting with the community,” he said.