North Star to NSW/Queensland Border project update November 2021
We’re continuing to work with the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) to determine the draft conditions of approval for the North Star to NSW/Queensland Border project, collaborating with our preferred civil works proponent, Freight Connect, and welcoming both new and familiar faces to the engagement team.
November 18, 2021
The North Star to NSW/Queensland Border project is currently in the ‘assessment’ phase as we work with DPE to negotiate the project’s draft conditions of approval. This is a collaborative process which also considers community submissions. The Minister for Planning will then decide whether to approve the project. Please visit DPE’s major projects website for more information.
Collaborating with Freight Connect
We appointed Freight Connect, a consortium led by Laing O’Rourke and including Toowoomba-based FKG Group, as the preferred proponent for the Central Civil Works Program in late September 2021.
This section of Inland Rail includes approximately 86km between North Star in New South Wales and Whetstone in Queensland, as well as a separate approximately 14km segment south of Moree, called Narrabri to North Star Phase 2. The North Star to NSW/QLD Border project sits within the Central Civil Works Program.
We are now working with Freight Connect to exchange information which will support the development phase for the first segment of the Central Civil Works Program.
During the development phase Freight Connect will review the project’s reference design and develop construction plans and methodologies to support its fully costed proposal for the first segment.
While appointing a preferred proponent prior to receiving planning approvals is common practice, major construction will not start until statutory approvals have been received.
Out and about
Our stakeholder engagement team is growing as the project progresses and we continue to meet with landowners and the community.
We’re pleased to advise Lauren Marer has returned from maternity leave and is back in the office every Monday and Tuesday. Welcome back, Lauren!
We also recently welcomed a new engagement team member to the North Star to NSW/Queensland Border project. Isabella Hall has worked for Inland Rail on the Narrabri to North Star project for more than two years and brings a wealth of experience to her new role as Engagement Lead.
Lauren and Isabella join Naomi Tonscheck and Emily Louden in the Goondiwindi office which is open from Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.00pm. Be sure to drop in and say hello.
Contact us
If you have any questions or would like to chat, please reach out to your local engagement representative, or get in touch by:
- dropping into our office at 116 Marshall Street (in the Goondiwindi Business Hub)
- calling 1800 732 761
- emailing inlandrailnsw@artc.com.au
Image: Inland Rail North Star to NSW/Queensland community engagement team members
