ARTC Inland Rail host drop-in sessions in Moree for Narrabri to North Star Phase 2
The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is hosting drop-in information sessions over the next month for the community to learn more about Phase 2 of the Narrabri to North Star (N2NS) section of Inland Rail.
October 4, 2022
The drop-in information sessions follow the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Phase 2 of N2NS being put on public exhibition last week.
Phase 2 involves upgrading approximately 13km of existing track and building roughly 2km of new track across the Mehi-Gwydir floodplain at Camurra, north of Moree.
Details of the drop-in sessions:
- 28 September: SHAE Academy, 114 Anne Street, Moree NSW, between 12pm-6:30pm
- 4 October: Moree Town and Country Club, 7 Frome Street, Moree NSW between 5pm-6:30pm
- 11 October: Moree Town and Country Club, 7 Frome Street, Moree NSW between 7am-8:30am
- 12 October: Econo Lodge, Alice Street & Gosport Street, Moree NSW between 12pm-1pm
- 14 October: Balo Square, Balo Street, Moree NSW between 11am-1pm
- 19 October: Stanley Village – park area, Moree NSW between 10am-11:30am
- 20 October: Moree Town and Country Club, 7 Frome Street, Moree NSW between 10am-12pm
- 27 October: Balo Square, Balo Street, Moree NSW between 12pm-3:30pm
Through the EIS process, community members and stakeholders are invited to provide feedback and make formal submissions to the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE).
ARTC Inland Rail assists this process by facilitating community drop-in information sessions and other opportunities to explain the content of the draft EIS and the process for making submissions.
Following the EIS public exhibition, a written report responding to issues raised during the consultation will be made publicly available by ARTC and will be submitted to DPE and the Minister for Planning for consideration in assessing the N2NS Phase 2 project.
The draft EIS is available to view and comment on at the DPE Major Projects website until midnight 2 November, 2022, and more information on the community sessions can be found on the Inland Rail website.
Inland Rail Delivery Director (Central) Heather Parry said:
“To assist community members in understanding key information on N2NS Phase 2, we are hosting eight drop-in sessions in and around Moree to help people navigate the draft EIS documents.
“At these sessions, attendees can also receive assistance with lodging a submission and learn more about what we are proposing as part of N2NS Phase 2.
“We value community input during the design and approvals process, and we encourage members of the community to make a submission to the New South Wales Government during the public exhibition.
“Key elements of Phase 2 include raising railway heights to achieve improved flood immunity, enhancing operational capability and changes to existing bridges over the Mehi and Gwydir rivers.
“The project will also involve upgrading drainage and associated flood management works, modifying existing level crossings to improve safety and works on utilities, modifying infrastructure and fencing impacted by the track upgrade.
“Phase 2 works sit adjacent to N2NS Phase 1 which has been under construction since April 2021, as well as the Country Rail Network’s Weemelah line that branches off at Camurra.
“Local communities and businesses are already seeing the benefits of Inland Rail through Phase 1 of the Narrabri to North Star Inland Rail project.
“As of July 2022, more than 600 local residents had worked on Inland Rail and more than $166 million had been spent with local businesses and suppliers.
“Now we’re looking toward Phase 2 of N2NS, where the draft EIS has been finalised following extensive environmental assessments and technical investigations that included consultation with landowners, local councils, and industry groups.”
