Narrabri Shire Council is the first organisation to submit its Gate 2 Pre-Feasibility Study for its project under the Federal Government $44 million Interface Improvement Program.
The aim of the Interface Improvement Program (“IIP”) is to support the development of projects that increase the amount of freight on Inland Rail. Reducing freight transport and handling costs will facilitate local industries to be more competitive in existing and future markets; this will further encourage businesses to invest in new production and manufacturing locations along Inland Rail such as the Northern NSW Inland Port (“N2IP”).
Council’s project seeks to improve the road and rail interfaces at Narrabri to make the most of strong local investment activity and production as well as ensuring that the road and rail connections to N2IP are as efficient as possible.
Council’s IIP project is one of 20 projects along the Inland Rail alignment announced as part of the program. Gunnedah, Gilgandra and Moree also have projects in the ordinary tranche of the program.
Council is excited to be the first of the 20 projects to submit a Gate 2 Pre-Feasibility Study.
Narrabri Shire Council Mayor, Ron Campbell said, “Council’s project was selected for the program after submitting a compelling business case in 2019 but further to that the project was then chosen as one of three projects to be fast-tracked.
“To now have the first Gate 2 Pre-Feasibility Study completed is a significant milestone.”
Connectivity to Inland Rail will support local economic growth and ensure that the Northern NSW Inland Port will be the leading freight and manufacturing hub in northern NSW.
“With connectivity, comes opportunity for not only the Narrabri community but for Inland Rail as well. We want businesses in the Shire to be able to efficiently access markets in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, but internationally as well.” added Mayor Campbell.
Council has long recognised the benefits of Inland Rail to the Narrabri Shire community and has lobbied long and hard for the infrastructure to capture these benefits.
You need look no further than the recent announcements of $16.8 and $7.8 million from the State and Federal Government respectively; a whooping total $24.6 million for the development of N2IP – that confidence in the project is sky high.
To reach the pre-feasibility study stage, Council has been working closely with specialist advisors from Ernst and Young (“EY”). Council will continue to work with EY through the remaining 2 gateway stages; Council’s IIP project is proposed to be finalised in April 2021.
– Ends –
More on the Federal Government Interface Improvement Program:
https://www.inlandrail.gov.au/regional-development/interface-improvement-program
More on the Northern NSW Inland Port: