North Star to NSW/Queensland Border update October 2022
Like many in the area, our projects throughout NSW are being impacted by recent and ongoing heavy rain. Our thoughts are with our team members and communities who are impacted by the recent floods. If you see any weather-related impacts along the alignment, including on the existing rail corridor in the North Star to NSW/QLD Border project area, please report them to our team at 1800 732 761.
Out and about
Last week, we supported the Goondiwindi Region Careers, Skills and Opportunities Expo 2022. The event, organised by Goondiwindi Chamber of Commerce, brings together a wide variety of local businesses and organisations to promote career pathways and opportunities in the region.
Over the last month, we’ve been out in the field meeting with communities and key government stakeholders along the alignment. In the coming months we’re helping familiarise our preferred civil works contractor, Laing O’Rourke with the project alignment.
What’s happening in the field?
Laing O’Rourke (formerly known as FreightConnect), our preferred civil works contractor for the North Star to QLD/ NSW border project will be out in the field toward the end of the month surveying the alignment within the Inland Rail corridor. Surveyors will peg the site boundary from just north of North Star through to Bruxner Highway.
Additionally, we are planning a site appreciation walk in mid-November with Laing O’Rourke and a team of ecologists, cultural heritage specialists, surveyors and geologists. The walk will help the team identify appropriate site access points, sensitive aboriginal and cultural heritage sites, and flora and fauna areas.
Information gathered will inform geotechnical, flora and fauna investigations, cultural heritage surveys and utilities investigations to be delivered over the next six months as part of the project’s detailed design phase.
Cadastral surveys will also be carried out in various locations along the alignment in the coming months.
What’s coming up?
We’re supporting the Goondiwindi Region Careers, Skills and Opportunities Expo 2022 on Friday 21 October 2022. The event, organised by Goondiwindi Chamber of Commerce, brings together a wide variety of local businesses and organisations to promote career pathways and opportunities in the region. Come by and say hi to the team at the Inland Rail stand.
EIS status
The North Star to NSW/Queensland Border section remains in the approvals stage as we continue to work with the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) on our conditions of approval.
We expect the Minister for Planning to decide about the section in the coming months.
Find out more by visiting DPE’s website.
Questions?
For more information about the North Star to NSW/Queensland Border section, please get in touch. You can contact the project’s Stakeholder Engagement Lead, Isabella Hall via 0409 413 155 or ihall@artc.com.au.
Alternatively, drop in to see us between Monday and Friday at 116 Marshall Street, Goondiwindi.
