Inland Rail driving economic opportunities
10 April 2019
Federal Government is taking action to drive long-term employment and
economic opportunities in regional communities by building the
Inland
Rail.
That’s why
Expressions of Interest (EOI) are being sought for a
Public
Private Partnership (PPP) that will deliver the 1700 kilometre
rail
track’s most technically complex leg situated between
Gowrie and Kagaru
in
Queensland.
This Inland Rail is being built to connect farmers in some of
Australia’s most productive agricultural regions—including
South-East
Queensland—into booming domestic and export markets more efficiently, in
higher volumes and at lower transport costs.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and
Regional Development Michael McCormack said these employment and
business opportunities were central to the Inland Rail line being built,
to benefit regional communities and economies through more efficient
logistics networks.
“Inland rail is one of the most exciting nation-building infrastructure
projects in decades and we want to maximise its potential benefits,” Mr
McCormack said.
“The Australian Government is building this 1700 kilometre
Brisbane to
Melbourne rail line to help boost the nation’s freight capacity,
while generating jobs and opportunities for regional communities, in
view of the nation’s freight task expected to double in the next 20
years.
“Inland Rail is about more than a railway—it’s about opening up a world
of opportunity for inland Australia and helping to grow and sustain
regional communities and economies.
“Transformational infrastructure projects like Inland Rail come along
once-in-a-generation which is why it’s important we work in
partnerships, strategically, to build this important section of the rail
route between Gowrie and Kagaru in Queensland.”
Through the PPP, the
Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) and the
private sector will undertake approximately 8.5 kilometres of major
tunnelling through the Toowoomba, Teviot and Little Liverpool ranges.
This project will help to deliver the largest diameter diesel freight
tunnel in the Southern Hemisphere, as well as approximately 126
kilometres of new and upgraded rail track.
The innovative design of the Gowrie to Kagaru leg of Inland Rail will
allow double-stacked, 1.8 kilometre long trains, each equal to 110
B-Double trucks, to travel through the ranges west of Brisbane.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said that the Australian Government’s
$9.3 billion commitment to Inland Rail is an investment in Australia’s
stronger economic future.
“Inland Rail will provide long term economic returns for regional
Australia and benefit our national economy by moving freight to markets
more efficiently and at lower costs,” Senator Cormann said.
“Partnering with the private sector will allow ARTC to leverage private
sector design and construction expertise in delivering this important
infrastructure project.”
Federal Groom MP John McVeigh said the Inland Rail was the next big
project for the Toowoomba community that will deliver a significant
economic boost.
“Recent economic modelling released by the CSIRO has indicated transport
cost savings of up to $94 per tonne can be achieved through the inland
rail for horticulture and food processing freight,” Mr McVeigh said.
“This study shows some good potential transport cost savings and
highlights why the Australian Government has invested in building the
Inland Rail.
“I’d expect these transport cost reductions may be replicated throughout
other sections of the Inland Rail and in my region those savings would
mean more money in farmers’ pockets, to be re-invested in the local
economy.”
Construction began on Inland Rail in December 2018 on the Parkes to
Narromine leg of the project and direct with and indirect benefits
already flowing back into the local community.
The construction contractor for this segment in New South Wales, INLink,
was awarded a contract of over $300 million and is already spending
across local Parkes businesses.
Responses to the EOI are due to ARTC in May 2019.
For more information: inlandrail.artc.com.au/ppp
--ENDS--
Source: Australian Government - www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au
Contact: N/A
External Links: inlandrail.artc.com.au/ppp
Recent news by: Australian Government