The New South Wales Government has granted approval for the Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 section of Inland Rail.
The New South Wales Minister for Planning and Public Spaces approved the Critical State Significant Infrastructure application for the Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 project under the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
This marks a milestone for the project, with all sections within the state now formally approved.
In June, Inland Rail awarded a design services agreement to joint venture partners Arcadis BG&E to complete a package of design work from Moree to Camurra, including the Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 project.
In the coming months, Inland Rail will work with Arcadis to refine the design of the Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 project, which includes 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.
The proposal also includes a 1.3 kilometre spur to maintain connection to the Weemelah line.
Key rail design elements will include upgraded and new rail alignments, new rail bridges, additional culverts across floodplains and waterways, level crossings and earthworks.
Major construction of the Narrabri to North Star Phase 1 section is now complete, with upgrades carried out to 163 kilometres of existing rail corridor.
“This section is now much safer, allowing freight trains to travel faster after loading at facilitates at Milguy, Croppa Creek and North Star,” a spokesperson for Inland Rail said in a statement.
The Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 project is now under Commonwealth assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Future decisions by the federal government on the delivery of Inland Rail sections north of Narromine will be considered when the government has “more certainty” as to the delivery and full cost of Inland Rail.
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