Inland Rail 560-strong workforce on Stockinbingal to Parkes

Statistics dating to October 2024 show a total of 560 people have been working on the Stockinbingal to Parkes section, with 163 of those being local residents. Local businesses on the section have enjoyed a cash injection of more than $9.5 million, spent across 102 local businesses between July 2023 and October 2024.

First Nations business across Australia are contributing to the Stockinbingal to Parkes section, supplying more than $183,000 worth of services. Of the 163 local workers, 28 are First Nations people, making up more than half of the 48 First Nations people who have worked on the Stockinbingal to Parkes section.

The Stockinbingal to Parkes section of Inland Rail includes sites at:

• Daroobalgie, where a crossing loop is being completed
• Wyndham Avenue, Forbes, where the track under the road bridge has been lowered
• the awning at Forbes Station is being trimmed by 300mm and the track is being slewed laterally by half a metre
• scaffolding was installed on the Lachlan River Bridge ahead of modifications to increase vertical clearance on the bridge deck.

The Inland Rail Skills Academy has been creating pathways into the rail industry in partnership with recognised training providers, graduates of which have been working on the section. Completing a Certificate II in Rail Infrastructure course through the Inland Rail Skills Academy gave the graduates the necessary skills to gain work with contractor Martinus Rail and start working on the Stockinbingal to Parkes section.

Regional NSW communities will benefit further from Inland Rail construction in 2025 as construction begins in the Albury to Illabo and Illabo to Stockinbingal sections of the project.