Community members now have an opportunity to find out how Inland Rail is responding to their submissions on the project’s Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 (N2NS P2) section.
Inland Rail prepared and shared the N2NS P2 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which resulted in 30 submissions from members of the public.
Now it is possible for the public to read how Inland Rail proposes to address these submissions.
When the EIS was shared in September 2022, the New South Wales Government’s Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) requested Inland Rail prepare a Response to Submissions Report.
This report is now online at the DPHI Major Projects website, giving an overview of the 30 submissions and analysing issues raised.
It also demonstrates the actions Inland Rail has proposed to address those issues.
Peter Borrelli, Inland Rail Project Director Narrabri to North Star, said local communities and businesses are already seeing the benefits of Inland Rail through the completed Phase 1 of the Narrabri to North Star section.
“This year we’ve seen GrainCorp trains transport a bumper canola harvest on the upgraded track from Croppa Creek to the Port of Newcastle – with each train getting the equivalent freight volume of 50 B-double trucks off New South Wales roads,” he said.
“We’re now looking towards achieving approval for N2NS P2 which will act as the missing link to the completed Phase 1 section, allowing freight customers to transport heavier volumes at higher speeds through access to the Australian Rail Track Corporation Hunter Valley Rail Network, boosting productivity and efficiency.”
Inland Rail has also prepared a Preferred Infrastructure Report, containing information on additional assessments, consultation, and design refinements undertaken to minimise potential hydrology and operational noise impacts.
DPHI will consider these technical reports in its assessment of the N2NS P2 project. Should State Government approval be provided, the project would then require Commonwealth approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Summaries of both the N2NS P2 Response to Submissions Report and Preferred Infrastructure Report are now available to view on the Inland Rail website.
The N2NS P2 section comprises 14 kilometres of existing rail track across the Mehi-Gwydir floodplain and the construction of around 1.6 kilometres of new rail track to bypass the existing Camurra Hairpin. The proposal starts immediately north of the Alice Street level crossing in Moree and ends at Camurra North, just past the Moree Gun Club.
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
