As a part of the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) Inland Rail project, the Narwonah Material Distribution Centre (MDC) will be one of two centre’s supporting the installation of ballast, sleepers, rail, and turnouts.
At the peak of construction around 100 people will be working on building the MDC that will facilitate construction of part of the 1,700km Inland Rail alignment.
The centre will process 675,000 concrete sleepers, more than 45,000 tonnes of new rail, and more than 500,000 tonnes of ballast.
Inland Rail Delivery Director, Paul Hollamby, said, “Narromine is a significant location for the Inland Rail as it is the staging point for the largest greenfield section of the project between Narromine and Narrabri.
“The vast majority of the materials to build Inland Rail will be transported from their point of manufacture to the material distribution centre at Narwonah by rail, and depart again on rail to the construction railhead where they will be placed in their final location using a Track Laying Machine.
“In a unique way, we are using a railway to construct a new railway. This approach will utilise significant safety, environmental, and sustainability benefits by removing the requirement for tens of thousands of truck movements on interstate and local roads.”
Mayor of Narromine Shire, Craig Davies, said the Narwonah Material Distribution Centre site is generating local opportunities for jobs and suppliers of goods and services in the Narromine area.
“We saw enormous benefits materialise in Parkes when Inland Rail was under construction on the Parkes to Narromine section of the project, as well as similar benefits in Moree and Narrabri at present. Now it’s Narromine’s turn to reap the rewards,” Mayor Davis said.
The centre is on track to begin services in mid-2023, with 67,000m³ of topsoil stripped and more than 74,000m³ of soil already moved onsite.
