Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 project update May 2023
Since our last newsletter we have continued engaging with key stakeholders, established a Community Reference Group to inform the ongoing development of the project and conducted further technical investigations to inform the project’s Environmental Impact Statement.
May 16, 2023
Local engagement continues
Every month we meet with key stakeholders, including the Moree Plains Shire Council, to ensure Council representatives have the latest project information to inform local planning.
In April, we attended two events that enabled discussions with the wider community. The Moree Show is a key feature on our engagement schedule and this year plenty of Moree locals and visitors to the show stopped by our stall for a chat (you can read more about it here).
Last month, we also attended ‘Gather and Grow’, an event organised by the NSW Treasury Aboriginal Procurement Team to support the growth of the First Nations business sector. Inland Rail Social Performance Advisor Brent Fewkes gave a short presentation on potential supply opportunities and spoke with local businesses during the networking session.
Community Reference Group established
In March, the Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 project established a Community Reference Group (CRG) and called for nominations for membership. Twelve members representing the local community were appointed with two Moree Plains Shire Council representatives added to the group.
The CRG will be led by Independent Chairperson, Mr Mike Silver. The Chair can invite non-members to attend meetings, either as observers or to provide advice to the Group.
The CRG’s role is to gather and disseminate information regarding the Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 section throughout the community and to bring representative views from the community back to the Group. We are working towards the first meeting occurring in the second half of June.
We will provide more information about the CRG in the next edition of this newsletter.
Progressing project planning
As we refine the project’s detailed design, we are also reviewing the size and location of the project’s Construction Impact Zone (CIZ), also known as the construction footprint.
The CIZ refers to all the land directly affected by construction work. It includes the location of proposed temporary and permanent infrastructure, locations directly disturbed by the movement of construction machinery and equipment, and the location of major storage areas, compounds and sites.
In March, the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) formally requested the project team to develop a Preferred Infrastructure Report (PIR). This PIR will provide further information on matters relating to flooding and hydrology, and noise.
We are working through the recommendations of the Independent Review of Inland Rail and will determine submission timeframes for the project’s Response to (EIS)Submissions Report and the PIR following adequacy review by DPE and other stakeholders.
