New survey work for the Narromine to Narrabri section of the Inland Rail marks another chapter in the lengthy process of the freight corridor’s construction.  

The survey work, which began November 1 and will continue to November 15, will assist with the final mapping of the route, identifying the surface features and roads that will need to be navigated when the building process begins. 

An Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) spokesperson said that surveying will help to better understand the landscape.  

“It will be carried out both on foot and using a drone where necessary, operated by a fully licensed drone pilot,” the spokesperson said.   

According to the spokesperson, the surveying work will be completed on crown land or road reserves. The nature of the project however, where the corridor interrupts both public and private land, means that it is likely that crown land makes up for only some of the necessary surveying work.  

“We will not access private property without prior consent from landowners, with all work subject to Land Access Agreements,” said the spokesperson.  

So far, the project hasn’t been interrupted by Covid-19, with the construction for the Narrabri to North Star section a priority to be operational in time for this year’s harvest.  

However, while Narrabri to North star saw the upgrades of an existing track, the Narromine to Narrabri section can expect to see a longer and more invasive construction process, with an entirely new track to be built for the 306km stretch.   

The ongoing survey work could further amend or refine the current proposed route from what has been refined to a 40 to 60 metre corridor, minimising the disruption of existing properties.

While only one section of the Inland Rail has so far made it to the sixth and final stage of the project – Parkes to Narromine – the Narromine to Narrabri section remains in the second stage of reference design.  

The final approval for construction of the section is yet to be provided by the Minister for Planning and Public spaces.