Narromine to Narrabri section update: Spring 2025
In the last quarter we’ve been out in the community, progressed field surveys and started design refinement on the Narromine to Baradine segment.
October 9, 2025
Planning changes are underway to improve construction efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. Community consultation will begin ahead of a proposed approval modification in 2026.
The Inland Rail stand at this year’s AgQuip, 19-21 August.
In August, we attended the three-day AgQuip event in Tamworth, updating over 140 stakeholders on Inland Rail’s progress in northern NSW. We’re always keen to support local community events where we can, and catch up with landowners, local businesses and the wider community.
Field investigations and surveys continue in Spring. Back-to-back rain delays affected our ability to complete the investigation scope last quarter. With drier weather approaching we’re hoping to complete geotechnical investigations at a small number of properties near Gilgandra by November.
Our cadastral teams return to the alignment in October with surveys planned for Narrabri Creek and at properties in Baradine, Quanda and Gilgandra.
Over Spring, we will also carry out ecology surveys, heritage surveys and return to a few borrow pit sites to perform additional, deeper, borehole testing.
Design refinement is progressing for the 198km stretch of Inland Rail between Narromine and Baradine.
In July, recently appointed Design Services joint venture partners – WSP and Mott MacDonald – started developing the next stage of engineering designs for the alignment between the Materials Distribution Centre south of Narromine and the border of the Pilliga Forest, near Baradine.
Over the next 18 months, this team will use recently collected field investigations data to progress the current ‘reference’ design to the next level of maturity – called a ‘preliminary’ design.
During this period, we’ll also complete extensive hydrological and hydraulic assessments and modelling across all waterways along the Narromine to Narrabri section.
In the new year we will consult with landowners affected by current flood behaviour and share modelling that predicts flooding impacts which may result from Inland Rail construction. Insights from these activities will inform design solutions which will help to reduce potential flooding impacts.
In the coming months we will be preparing for a planning approval modification. As we’ve learnt more about the Narromine to Narrabri section’s alignment since achieving planning approvals in early 2024, we’ve reviewed and refined our construction requirements. Some changes we want to make will require us to submit a planning approval modification with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.
The proposed changes include:
- Additional borrow pit sites to optimise earthwork operations across the project.
- Revised locations for two temporary workforce accommodation facilities between Narromine and Narrabri.
- A reduced construction footprint to lower biodiversity offset requirements.
Before submitting any planning approval modification requests, currently forecast for 2026, we will consult extensively with the community about these changes.
Read more about these proposed planning modifications on our website.
