Border to Gowrie section update June 2023
In line with the Australian Government’s response to the independent review of the Inland Rail program, we are now taking a staged approach to deliver Inland Rail. The sections of Inland Rail between Beveridge in Victoria and Parkes in New South Wales have been prioritised for completion by 2027. Works to complete construction works underway on the Narrabri to North Star Phase 1 project will continue.
June 8, 2023
Future decisions by the Australian Government on the delivery of Inland Rail sections north of Narromine will be contingent on gaining the required primary approvals and securing land required for the Inland Rail corridor.
For the Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 project, work to secure the required state and Federal approvals will continue through the collection of information, needed to help inform the project’s Environmental Impact Statement.
Subject to the Narromine to Narrabri, and North Star to Border sections achieving Australian Government approvals, we’ll conduct further investigations, such as identifying utilities locations and investigating ground conditions, to help refine elements of the project’s design and provide more certainty on the delivery and cost of the full Inland Rail project.
Finally, the Australian Government has announced that the Inland Rail service offering of double-stacked trains will operate between the intermodal terminal at Beveridge in Victoria and a proposed terminal at Ebenezer in Queensland, with a single-stacked, dual-gauge connection to be built between Ebenezer and Kagaru. As such, the scope of the Inland Rail project now finishes at Kagaru. The Government also agreed a second intermodal terminal at Truganina be developed.
Revised draft EIS status
As recommended, work continues on the NSW/Qld Border to Gowrie revised draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as we prepare additional information for submission to the Coordinator-General.
Local feedback and collection of technical investigations data will continue to inform the project’s EIS so we can mitigate impacts wherever possible and deliver the benefits of Inland Rail for regional communities. This work will include the geotechnical investigations currently being undertaken by our construction contractor BHQJV.
What’s happening in the field?
We’ll continue holding community information sessions and be present at other public forums, because local feedback is a key input to helping us refine the Inland Rail design and prepare the revised draft EIS.
We look forward to seeing you, so be sure to drop by and say hello to our team.
Questions?
For more information about the NSW/ Queensland Border to Gowrie (B2G) project, please get in touch.
For questions about the section between:
- Gowrie to Millmerran, please contact Stakeholder Engagement Lead, Katie Unipan via kunipan@artc.com.au or 0438 429 105
- Millmerran to Whetstone, please contact Stakeholder Engagement Lead, Scott Cobine via scobine@artc.com.au or 0488 032 447
- Whetstone to the NSW/QLD Border, please contact Stakeholder Engagement Lead, Emily Louden via elouden@artc.com.au or 0439 773 413
