Following public feedback, Narromine Shire Council have agreed on a revised plan for the Narromine Industrial Precinct at 397 Craigie Lea Lane during their latest meeting.

Proposed in 2024, the project aimed to rezone 99.65 hectares of land from RU1 Primary Production to E5 Heavy Industrial to support agriculture, transport industries, and the Inland Rail project.

This amounted to 20 per cent of the total land area.

“This approach fosters growth in the agriculture and transport sectors, supporting both existing businesses and new ventures within the Narromine region,” Ms. Narromine Shire Council’s General Manage Redden said.

However, in response to community feedback, the zoning will remain E4 General Industrial.

Resulting public consultation on the issue ran for 60 days and involved several face-to-face information sessions.

The consultation concluded on January 17 and resulted in 272 public submissions raising concerns about the plans.

Narromine Shire Mayor Ewen Jones said he was happy community concerns had been acknowledged.

Narromine Shire Council Mayor, Ewen Jones said the new industrial precinct has huge potential for Narromine.

“Council has secured $9 million from the state government to establish the industrial precinct," Mr Jones said.

"While E5 zoning was initially proposed, the community ultimately supported E4, which aligns with our existing smaller industrial site."

Mr Jones noted that the site was strategically chosen for its proximity to the proposed Narromine to Narrabri Inland Rail corridor, the longest section of the Inland Rail project.

This 306-kilometre rail corridor will link with the Narrabri to North Star section under construction, and the completed Parkes to Narromine segment, facilitating freight transport to Adelaide and Perth.

“We’ve already seen strong interest from businesses looking to establish on the site."

"Distribution centres are stockpiling thousands of sleepers, railway lines, and ballast,” he said.

“Whenever the green light is given for the Narromine to Narrabri section, the material stockpile will be ready.

" I know that all the houses or properties that Inland Rail wanted to acquire, have been acquired."

"While there’s no clear timeframe for completion, a change in federal government might accelerate progress.”

The construction phase will involve significant earthworks, including millions of cubic meters of embankments, thousands of concrete culverts, road realignments, and utility relocations.

The design features 49 new public level crossings, 75 new bridges and viaducts, and seven crossing loops, each up to 2.2 kilometres long.

For a bird’s-eye view of the Narromine to Narrabri section and to explore the proposed design structures, click here to watch the fly-through videos.