Albury, Wagga and Forbes firms to get shot at Inland Rail contracts
Local and Indigenous businesses in Albury, Wagga Wagga and Forbes will get their chance to win business on the Inland Rail project with three special business networking events being held in the towns in the coming week.
The shortlisted contractors for the 185km Albury to Illabo project and the 170km Stockinbingal to Parkes project, John Holland, FreightConnect and Martinus Rail, will attend networking sessions hosted by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), at which businesses can make their pitch to the major contractors to win future work.
Businesses interested in attending should ensure they have a current, accurate business capability statement and a 30-second ‘elevator pitch’ that describes what their business does, where it is located and clients they have worked with.
Regional supplier briefings event details
- Albury: Monday 18 July 2022 between 4pm and 6:30pm at Commercial Club Albury (618 Dean Street)
- Wagga Wagga: Tuesday 19 July 2022 between 4pm and 6:30pm at Wagga RSL Club (Dobbs Street)
- Forbes: Wednesday 20 July 2022 between 4pm and 6:30pm at Club Forbes (Templar Street)
Project Director of Inland Rail (Tottenham to Narromine) Melvyn Maylin said that ARTC Inland Rail is providing new opportunities for local businesses to engage with the Inland Rail program as they progress towards construction.
“These briefings are intended to help get as many local people as possible involved with the project,” he said.
“We are inviting local businesses who are keen to be involved in Inland Rail to join us at this networking event, hear from the shortlisted contractors and meet with representatives from each organisation.
“Bookings are essential. You can register your attendance by visiting inlandrail.artc.com.au/a2p-meet or by emailing inlandrailnsw@artc.com.au.
“Inland Rail is being predominantly delivered in regional Australia, meaning there is a prime opportunity for regional Australia to reap the immediate benefits that come with construction.
“The relationships that we establish with communities and businesses now will also support regions to prepare for the long-term economic opportunities that come with connectivity to this fast, efficient and cost-competitive freight transport.”
Final selection of contractors
ARTC is now entering a formal Request for Proposal phase to determine which contractor will be chosen to conduct the project.
The successful contractor will be required to deliver initiatives and meet targets related to industry participation, employment and workforce development with the Inland Rail team working closely with them to achieve these targets.
This is especially good news for city centres like Albury-Wodonga and Wagga Wagga, which will act as hubs for surrounding regional industry when Inland Rail is operational, through intermodal capacity and strategic locations between Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra.
“We are incredibly mindful of how sizable investment can reshape regional economies in a short period of time and our focus is on ensuring that benefits flow directly to the communities on the Inland Rail alignment,” said Maylin.
ARTC is expecting to award the contract in early 2023.
For information about Inland Rail in southern New South Wales, visit the Inland Rail website at:
