Inland Rail’s community engagement team has moved on to the Illabo to Stockinbingal section of the project, with nominations open for the Community Consultative Committee.
Currently in its feasibility stage, the Illabo to Stockinbingal portion of Inland Rail requires the construction of 37 kilometres of new railway in the New South Wales Riverina region.
A number of field studies and a Multi Criteria Analysis has so far helped the Inland Rail team narrow down a study area from two kilometres to a corridor roughly 200-400 metres wide.
Part of the Community Consultative Committee (CCC)’s role will be to help further determine the 40-60 metre rail corridor for the section.
The NSW Department of Planning and the Environment has appointed former NSW state minister Garry West as the independent chair of the CCC.
Federal infrastructure minister, and Riverina MP Michael McCormack, said local community members can and should nominate for a position on the CCC, with nominations open until February 1, 2019.
McCormack said he’d already held a number of meetings with local landholders in the region to listen to their views and would continue talks.
“Moving food and fibre to market faster, in greater volumes and more efficiently will open up inland Australia to new and exciting economic opportunities, ensuring our farmers become more competitive and have more money in their pockets to spend in local communities,” he said.
“The Inland Rail will deliver genuine benefits to farming communities and grow regional economies and we are making sure we optimise the design by continuing to listen to stakeholders and gather feedback.
“That’s why local knowledge and expertise is critical to the Community Consultative Committees.”
The Illabo-Stockinbingal CCC is one of ten CCCs being used to help deliver Inland Rail.
The 1,700-kilometre Inland Rail project will allow double-stacked freight trains to travel inland between Brisbane and Melbourne, with a projected $10 per tonne saving for the supply chain.
Finance minister Mathias Cormann described Inland Rail as a once-in-a-generation infrastructure project.
“As Australia’s population increases so do the demands on our freight network,” Cormann said.
“Australia’s freight volumes are expected to double by 2030 which is why we need to invest in a freight rail line that will still be in use and delivering benefits to the nation 100 years from now.
“Australia’s rail system has always been an essential part of the fright supply chain and Inland Rail will be a pivotal part of Australia’s future freight network.”