Moree Plains Shire Council has won almost half a million dollars to help it ensure it is ‘Inland Rail ready’ by the time the rail line is upgraded in 2020.
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!['GAME-CHANGER': Mayor Katrina Humphries said a new project would help ensure the Moree Plains shire 'unlock [its] full agricultural potential'.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Gh2LLJN5ZAAiRUxkHxKdH7/934159f6-ec02-43a3-83ba-f5efab2c3277.JPG/r0_9_3872_2590_w576_h298_fmax.webp "'GAME-CHANGER': Mayor Katrina Humphries said a new project would help ensure the Moree Plains shire 'unlock [its] full agricultural potential'.")
The council has secured funding for a full transport study for the shire, with the project value coming to $425,000.
Mayor Katrina Humphries said most of this had been made available by the federal government, with a balance of funding and in-kind contributions by the council.
“Make no mistake, this grant is a game-changer for our shire,” Cr Humphries said.
The council will engage specialist help to prepare a strategic transport plan for the shire.
The project’s key elements are to:
- enhance access to, and operation of, current local intermodal facilities to take advantage now of recent upgrades to rail lines;
- address road access issues to current and future intermodal facilities;
- identify rail upgrades that would allow longer trains;
- undertake preliminary design work; and
- put in place a planning framework for a new major intermodal opportunity, including identifying critical ‘last mile needs’.
“We’ve always been committed to the Inland Rail,” Cr Humphries said.
”This grant is going to help us immensely to pull together a study which will allow players in the agricultural, logistics, distribution and other industries to understand the business case offered by this shire.
“It will also identify the places where additional investment is needed to truly unlock the potential of the shire’s place on the Inland Rail.
“This will also allow us to seek further funding to invest in these opportunities ourselves or offer opportunities for the private sector to get involved.”
A masterplan will be prepared on potential sites for a fully integrated multi-modal transport, logistics and business hub, reviewing both public and private land.
The strategic opportunities and infrastructure needs of each potential site will be reviewed. This could include new or upgraded roads, rail access, power, water, sewer and telecommunications.
A full business case will be developed, including the potential for complementary industrial development.
The project will develop logistics as a key economic driver for the growth of the Moree Plains region.
