Almost half a billion dollars of development, investment and innovation opportunities will flow to the Central West as a result of the Inland Rail project, the federal government has said.
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While a small number of locations will be situated on the rail line, including Parkes and Narromine, all towns and cities will benefit from improved freight access and the boost to the regional economy, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Barnaby Joyce said.
Mr Joyce was in Peak Hill on Monday as the first 500 tonnes of steel were delivered for the section between Parkes and Narromine.
He said the Inland Rail project would contribute to a stronger, more resilient nation and would have benefits for all regional areas.
A total of 14,000 tonnes of steel will be needed to complete the 107-kilometre line between Parkes and Narromine.
More will continue to be delivered over the next month, with construction expected to begin in the next few months.
The government has calculated that the Central West’s economy will get an additional $480 through investment and employment.
“This is a great day for regional Australia but more importantly this is a tremendous day for the nation,” Mr Joyce said.
“Today we are seeing pieces of steel 165 metres long being unloaded so that we can bring trains that are 1.8 kilometres long and move them at speeds of 115-120 kilometres an hour, to give people in rural areas the capacity to be part of this corridor of commerce.
“It will improve travel times for local farmers and producers, reduce the number of heavy vehicles travelling through towns and clash business costs for freight operators.”
Parkes MP Mark Coulton said while some cities such as Orange, Dubbo and Bathurst might question why they missed out on being part of the corridor, they would still benefit by easy access to the line at Narromine and Parkes.
“A lot of people have the idea the Inland Rail is a train, and it has to stop in their backyard but it’s the infrastructure of the track and its benefits go further and wider,” Mr Coulton said.
“I think we will start to see private operators embrace it, seeing the opportunity to go into more capital cities.”
“At the moment a lot of produce goes over the Blue Mountains but this will open up other opportunities.”
