Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 section update – December 2024
In our final update for 2024 we bring you the latest news on our progress towards gaining environmental approvals, celebrate this year’s achievements and preview what’s coming up in 2025. As we head into the festive season, we want to thank all our stakeholders and the wider community for supporting us during another busy year.
December 19, 2024
Inland Rail CEO Nick Miller visits Moree Plains Shire Council
Earlier this month, Inland Rail CEO Nick Miller joined members of the local Stakeholder Engagement team for a catch up with Moree Plains Shire Council.
Nick updated the new Mayor, Susannah Pearse and Deputy Mayor, Wayne Tighe and Senior Council staff on Inland Rail’s progress and was keen to hear Council’s perspectives on the project.
The meeting was very positive, and all parties committed to working closely to achieve the best outcomes for the Moree community.
Environmental approvals update
As we mentioned in our November update, the NSW Department of Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure (DPHI) accepted our Response to Submissions Report (RtS) and Preferred Infrastructure Report (PIR) and both documents are now publicly available online.
The reports outline how Inland Rail is addressing public and government agency submissions received in response to the PIR and RtS as well as requests by the planning authority. All documents are available on the NSW Government’s Major Projects website.
Since November, our approvals team has been:
- Working with DPHI and other NSW government agencies to review the RtS and PIR and provide any further advice and feedback
- Responding to requests for information from DPHI in relation to ecology and cultural heritage
- Liaising with Transport for NSW regarding key areas of interest, including hydrology and the Newell Highway interface
- Working with Local Land Services around stock crossing interface.
We anticipate the environmental approval process will continue into the first half of 2025. Upon its completion, DPHI will provide a recommendation to the NSW Minister for Planning for consideration. If approved, the proposal will be referred to the Australian Government for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999.
Individual property management plans
Last month, we kicked off discussions with directly impacted landowners to further understand how they operate their properties and the infrastructure they use.
Information gathered from these discussions is documented in Individual Property Management Plans. They will help us manage unique landowner requirements, inform Inland Rail’s final design in their vicinity and be shared with construction contractors to minimise any impacts at that point.
We thank the landowners who have cooperated with us during this important stage in the development of the North Star Phase 2 section.
2024 recap
As we down tools for the year, here’s a recap of our achievements on the N2NS Phase 2 section:
- Engaged Moree residents on predicted operational noise levels and potential noise mitigation measures at their properties in February
- Attended the Moree Show
- Progressed voluntary land acquisition conversations with directly affected landowners
- Introduced new land access protocols to facilitate better ways of working
- Met with all directly affected landowners to complete their Individual Property Management Plans.
2025 preview
Here’s what’s in store along the Phase 2 alignment next year:
- Geotechnical investigations along the rail corridor from January 2025
- Soil erosion testing along the rail corridor from February 2025
- Biodiversity surveys from February 2025
- Flood level surveys at residences nearby the alignment from March 2025
- Further refinement of the Phase 2 engineering design
- Community Reference Group meetings will restart
- We’ll continue consulting with Moree Plains Shire Council
- Finalising environmental approvals.
We will update the community in the new year with further details about this upcoming work schedule. Until then, everyone at Inland Rail wishes you a safe and restful festive season. We thank you for your ongoing engagement and feedback on the project.
