Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 project update December 2022
In the last few months of 2022, our Approvals team has been hard at work progressing Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) documentation, whilst our Stakeholder Engagement and Engineering teams hosted an alignment familiarisation tour with the project’s preferred construction contractor Laing O'Rourke. We thank the community for their engagement this year and look forward to working with you in 2023.
December 22, 2022
As the year draws to a close, we extend a sincere thank you to all stakeholders for your valued feedback and patience as the project progresses its approvals. Your feedback will ensure we deliver the best and safest possible design solutions for the railway line.
We also acknowledge the hardships that the October floods have brought to the region. Rest assured, we are committed to ensuring the project’s alignment design will avoid, as far as practical, any additional adverse flooding impacts than those currently experienced.
EIS approvals underway
The seven-week public exhibition of the project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) concluded on 9 November, with 20 public submissions received and 12 pieces of agency advice.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the process. All submissions are available to view on the N2NS P2 project page of the NSW Government’s Major Projects website.
Our Approvals team is preparing a Response to Submissions report to address issues raised in the submissions as required under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The report is expected to be lodged with the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) in the first half of 2023. Once reviewed, DPE will also publish the report on its Major Projects website.
DPE will then consider the Submissions Report in its assessment of the project and provide a recommendation (including conditions of approval) to the NSW Minister for Planning for determination.
Preferred construction contractor visits
Last week, we hosted an alignment familiarisation tour with team members from the project’s preferred construction contractor Laing O’Rourke. The trip allowed them to gather more information on the project to inform their detailed design and meet key stakeholders.
In early 2023, Laing O’Rourke will review current flood modelling to identify design improvement opportunities and will develop a new LiDAR survey for the alignment.
In February, Laing O’Rourke will return to Moree to present at a briefing and networking session focussing on engaging with Moree-based businesses. Event details will be communicated via this channel early in the new year.
IMAGE: Inland Rail Project Manager Marcela Suarez and Design Manager Joel Treloar from Laing O’Rourke discussing the design of the rail bridge over the Mehi River in Moree.
