New information on changes to the inland rail project was given to members of the public at an information session held in Baradine recently.  

Members of the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) inland rail team gave an update and answered questions about the Narromine to Narrabri (N2N) section of track at the Baradine Memorial Hall on Tuesday 6 September as part of a series of information sessions in communities along the route. 

The 306 kilometres of new track of the proposed greenfield section is a crucial part of delivering a fast and reliable freight rail service between Melbourne and Brisbane.

“We have some exciting and important information that has been a released to the public through the Department of Planning Environment regarding our preferred infrastructure report and amendment report,” said Erica Tudor, Stakeholder Engagement Manager for southern NSW.

“Some of these changes include crossing loops, road rear alignment improvements, changes to locations of workers accommodation, as well as further information around hydrology and biodiversity.”

Ms Tudor said that the new information is more refined than the previous update.

“This is a real opportunity for the community to become engaged with the project team, with our environment team, with our property team, with our stakeholder engagement team and to ask questions; it really is the next stage and progressing to construction,” Ms Tudor added.

“So, there are opportunities around putting in a submission to the Department of Planning and Environment around these new documents. However, if people do have questions around opportunities that come with the alignment, we're happy to facilitate that conversation.

“What might be a key thing is that at the end of the day, we're building a rail line and safety is of the utmost importance. So, for example, we have some additional treatments and locations to public level crossings, in which I think the community would be interested."

"We've also been able to reduce some of the road closures, which I think is a good win for the community as well. But it's just about refining those details since we've last been into the community and sharing it with them."

Approvals

“We are in the reference design stage still and then we're looking to have environmental approvals early next year and commence major N2N construction later next year,” Ms Tudor said.

According to inland rail, communities will benefit from the new freight connection between Melbourne and Brisbane through lasting legacy projects.  

Planning and investigations are underway for a multi-million-dollar materials distribution site at Narromine, which will service the future installation of ballast, sleepers, rail and turnouts along the 1700-kilometre Inland Rail alignment.

“We have early works commencing around Narromine, which is really exciting,” Ms Tudor said. “In Gilgandra we have a housing strategy, as well as water bore projects and these are all ramping up for construction for next year.  

“We have had these early works happen in other areas and they are an awakening for a lot of communities as to what the legacy opportunities might be. So, we have regular

contact with other councils and we are working through what their legacy items might be."

The Inland Rail under construction in another section. Image: inlandrail.artc.com.au

“With regards the proposed worker camp at Baradine, we have slightly moved the location to accommodate feedback from the community with key stakeholders around that," she said.

"So, it will not be at Camp Cypress, but at the race course location, to accommodate that feedback and to not impact the community in any negative way. That is our footprint; our plan at this stage and ultimately with the housing strategy.  As we go through the detailed design, we will firm up those details.

"But essentially, we're working with our preferred contractor ACCIONA and CPB Contractors Joint Venture (ACACPB JV) about our preferred locations and Baradine is one of those.

“I think time frame at this stage, given the housing construction strategy, we will probably have more information later next year. In terms of where we are at the moment, this community information session is around the public exhibition of our preferred Infrastructure report.

“However, we have a team that is in the community frequently and anticipate that to be the case going forward.”