The Illabo to Stockinbingal section of Inland Rail is edging closer to construction, with the New South Wales Government approving the environmental impact statement (EIS).
The EIS outlines how the 1,600km project between Brisbane and Melbourne will impact the environment and how the impacts will be avoided, minimised or offset.
Inland Rail Illabo to Stockinbingal is now under Commonwealth assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Major construction will not commence until Federal Government approval has been granted.
If approved by the Federal Government, work is expected to begin later this year and be completed in 2027.
ARTC will construct up to 39 kilometres of single-track railway for the double-stacked freight trains which will soon travel through the South Western slopes of the Riverina.
The Illabo to Stockinbingal connection is one of seven sections traversing inland New South Wales. The Inland Rail line will include a crossing loop at Bethungra and connect with the Stockinbingal to Parkes and Lake Cargelligo lines so that goods can also travel along the Main Southern Railway from Sydney to Albury.
The project is expected to create up to 400 jobs to build the new track, bridges and level crossings along the newly approved section with upgrades to a further 3.5km of existing train track for necessary integration works to the main rail line at Illabo. The project will also involve the construction of infrastructure for communications, drainage, signage, fencing, and temporary worker’s accommodation.
The heritage-listed Bethungra Spiral on the main rail line will be bypassed as part of the project.
The new section will connect to the Inland Rail’s Albury to Illabo proposal in the south and the Stockinbingal to Parkes proposal in the north.
New South Wales Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully, said, “Inland Rail needs the cooperation of the three states it spans so it is great to see regional New South Wales leading the charge with this approval.
“Planning approval is a significant step for this transformative project to enhance our freight and supply chain capabilities.
“Inland Rail promises to be a game changer for inland communities across rural NSW. Once complete, we will be able to move goods much more efficiently to both Melbourne and Brisbane.”
New South Wales Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison, said, “This section of Inland Rail will provide a valuable infrastructure link for the South West Slopes as it connects with this vital piece of national infrastructure.
“The NSW government is working with Inland Rail to deliver this project and strengthen its commitment to the regions.
“Consumers right across regional NSW stand to benefit with valuable cost savings once the Inland Rail project is complete as our state will have a more efficient and sustainable freight transport.”
The New South Wales Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has published its decision and reasonings online, available to view here.
Image: Inland Rail
