Inland Rail a train of opportunities: Narrabri Industrial Network

With the recent release of the Narromine to Narrabri Preferred Infrastructure/Amendment Report by ARTC/Inland Rail, Narrabri Industrial Network said the limitless opportunities for the Narrabri region that the construction of the Inland Rail infrastructure will bring are one step closer to reality.

The organisation said countless Narrabri region-based businesses are chomping at the bit for the construction of the Narromine to Narrabri section of the Inland Rail to begin construction.

The Narrabri Industrial Network has been heavily liaising with ARTC/Inland Rail for a number of years, and reaching this point is a hugely encouraging and exciting time, the organisation said.

“Narrabri Industrial Network has been at the forefront of discussions with ARTC and Inland Rail representing the many members of our group,” president Justin Smith said.

“Having ARTC and Inland Rail now confirm the preferred infrastructure plans for the Narromine to Narrabri section of Inland Rail is an exciting milestone.

“Many of our members have been long preparing for this time to arrive and are looking forward to an approval being granted and the project commencing so they can play their part in the construction of such an opportunistic piece of rail infrastructure.”

Narrabri Industrial Network acknowledged the efforts and extensive lobbying of Narrabri Shire Council, led by mayor Ron Campbell.

Council has for many years been lobbying to seize the opportunities of Inland Rail for Narrabri Shire, NIN said, and it is the understanding of the group that these extensive efforts have been largely successful.

Examples raised by the network include previous announcements that the federal government and ARTC/Inland Rail have committed to and funded the lifting of the rail overpass bridge over the Walgett line to a height to accommodate double-stacked trains, costing $10 million, and that Narrabri will be the site of the sixth NSW government Special Activation Precinct.

These two announcements will see enormous opportunities materialise for the Narrabri region, NIN said.

The development of the Narrabri SAP, incorporating the proposed Northern NSW Inland Port (N2IP), all connected to Inland Rail, will see a gargantuan shift in the economic landscape of the Narrabri region and establish a foundation for many years of future prosperity, the organisation said.

“The mayor has led the council charge on capturing the benefits of Inland Rail for our shire – we need the council to now stay the course,” Mr Smith said.

“Whilst construction provides initial opportunities, we cannot ignore the long-term benefits that infrastructure such as this will provide for generations to come.

The Inland Rail project ties together two of the key activity areas of the Narrabri Industrial Network; namely resources, energy, and infrastructure, as well as the key activity area of agriculture.

Narrabri Shire is recognised internationally as an innovative centre for agricultural research and home to an extremely rich agricultural bulk commodities market.

NIN is very much looking forward to working with its members and local producers to capitalise on opportunities to diversify and innovate as well as further value add and create shelf-ready products for export to lucrative international and domestic markets.

One of the founding aims of the Narrabri Industrial Network was to bring investment and export opportunities to the agri-sector, its producers, and processors to capitalise on local and export markets.

“Since our inception, NIN has worked to bring investment and export opportunities to our agriculture sector,” Mr Smith said.

“The building of the Inland Rail provides the foundation and will be the enabler for this to occur.

“The population growth and population sustainability that Inland Rail will underpin is something that also needs acknowledging and with it creates even more enthusiasm.

“NIN looks forward to a positive announcement concerning the project’s approval in the coming months.”