Narromine to Narrabri project update July 2022
Since our last update, we’ve been out and about in the community engaging with businesses, residents and key stakeholders on upcoming opportunities and the latest developments on the project. We’ve also progressed the approvals process with the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) and continued geotechnical survey work along the Narromine to Narrabri alignment.
July 15, 2022
Connecting with our communities
In the last three months, our Stakeholder Engagement Team has been busy attending Agricultural Shows up and down the alignment, enjoying the opportunity to meet locals and personally answer their questions.
We’re proud to support local shows because they bring people together in a fantastic atmosphere to celebrate community achievements.
Earlier this month, we also volunteered at the 56th Tom Quilty Gold Cup, an endurance horse race that challenges riders to complete 160km in 24 hours. We helped at the arrival gate, at the logbook station and at the entry to the vetting arena, giving us the chance to meet and cheer on all the riders.
In May, over 200 people attended local business forums hosted by our project team in Narromine, Gilgandra, Coonamble, Baradine and Narrabri. The sessions introduced local and regional businesses to our preferred civil contractor for the Narromine to Narrabri section, ACACPB JV and our preferred rail corridor contractor Martinus. Local businesses and suppliers heard about how they can get involved with Inland Rail and register their interest in works packages offered by our construction contractors. Find out about supply opportunities here.
Last month, we reached more locals than ever before with a mailout of our project fact sheet to over 16,000 households in the five Local Government Areas along the alignment. Access the fact sheet here.
We also launched our first quarterly printed newsletter with more than 8,000 copies inserted into the five regional newspapers covering the project alignment. View the newsletter here.
On 6 July, we attended the graduation ceremony for seven students who completed the very first Inland Rail Foundations Course at TAFE NSW Narrabri. As part of their course, students completed a Certificate II in Construction, and built a cubby house, outdoor setting and a table for the Inland Rail office in Narrabri. We’re proud to see two graduates gained apprenticeships with employers in Coonabarabran and Wee Waa and the rest will now undertake a Certificate II in Rail Infrastructure. A fantastic achievement for all involved, congratulations!
In the next quarter, we’ll be attending more local shows and events to discuss how we’re addressing issues of concern to local communities and share updates on Inland Rail’s progress. Come and see us at:
- Narrabri markets – every month
- Wee Waa Show – 26 – 28 August
- Narromine Show – 2 September
- Tooraweenah Show – 15 October
And, as always, we welcome visitors to our new community shopfront open five days per week, at 85 Maitland Street, Narrabri, or call 1800 732 761.
Environmental approvals update
Since our last update in April, we have continued to work with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) to finalise the Submissions Report and Preferred Infrastructure Report (PIR)/Amendment Report for the Narromine to Narrabri project.
In May, DPE provided comments on the PIR and related documents, and requested further information relating to biodiversity, hydrology and social impacts of the project. We have addressed these requests and are in the process of lodging all the documentation.
Once DPE has completed a final review, all documents will be shared on their website. To make it easier for people to understand these technical reports, we’ll also publish a summary of findings a report on the Inland Rail website and we encourage people to meet us at information sessions across the region.
Learn more about the project approvals process by visiting DPE’s website.
Addressing flood water flows
At Inland Rail, we acknowledge that responsibly managing potential risks of flooding is a fundamental expectation of communities along our alignment.
That’s why we have been studying and modelling the impacts of flooding along the route since 2016.
Our hydraulic flood model was developed by globally renowned engineering firm JacobsGHD JV and is informed by historical and existing flood behaviour. The model evaluates the impact of the Inland Rail alignment on flood waters and simulates various flood scenarios up to, including and above a 1-in-100 year flood event.
To ensure we meet statutory obligations and community expectations, our model and associated assessment report have been independently reviewed by flood modelling specialists BMT Group, industry professionals from ARTC’s Technical Advisory Team and the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE).
In addition to formal reviews, Inland Rail meets monthly with DPE as part of the project’s Hydrology Working Group to address community and regulator concerns, review new information and update the model if required.
Six years of expert hydrological analysis and local knowledge has given us a deep understanding of flood risks associated with the building of Inland Rail.
This, together with strict flood impact limits set by DPE, will ensure we deliver a final design that is safe for the communities we pass through and safe for the ongoing operation of Inland Rail.
Narwonah Materials Distribution Centre works start soon
Initial works on the site of the Narwonah Materials Distribution Centre will start in the coming months with construction of a rail turnout which will enable construction materials to be delivered to site by train.
The Narwonah Material Distribution Centre (MDC), located 8km south of Narromine, is the largest proposed site of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
Spanning 4km2 in area, the MDC site will process 675,000 concrete sleepers, more than 45,000 tonnes of new rail and more than 500,000 tonnes of ballast. When operational, the MDC will allow our preferred rail corridor contractor Martinus to install approximately 368km of new track infrastructure between Narromine and the NSW/Qld border.
Martinus will deploy up to 100 people throughout the construction of the MDC and will install sections of new track as the Narromine to Narrabri civil construction works are completed.
IMAGE: Paul Giess, Inland Rail Delivery Director Southern presenting at the Narrabri event
