The Australian and NSW Governments are jointly funding the $261.17 million Newell Highway heavy duty pavement upgrades between Narrabri and Moree These upgrades will improve safety for motorists and reduce future maintenance requirements and costs The HDPU project includes upgrading four priority sections along the Newell Highway with  over 20 kilometres of new road pavement widening of road shoulders and the provision of five additional overtaking lanes Ongoing delays of at least fifteen minutes should be expected between Narrabri and Moree Please drive to the conditions and always follow the directions of signs and traffic control If your vehicle is over 3.8 metres wide, notify us ahead of your trip on 1800 741 636 (Option #2) or email NewellHighwayWideLoads@fultonhogan.com.au ahead of your journey so that arrangements can be planned within the construction area to minimise delays Watch this animated video that explains how oversize over mass (OSOM) vehicles and their pilot vehicles should travel through construction zones with special wide load bays For the latest traffic updates download the Live Traffic NSW App, visit the Live Traffic website or call 132 701 Read our April notification (PDF, 1.36 MB) to find out more Read our notification (PDF, 244.84 KB) to find out more Read our notification (PDF, 256.71 KB) to find out more Three new overtaking lanes south of Moree are now open thanks to a $261.1 million investment between the Australian and New South Wales governments providing safer and more efficient road journeys For drivers of the Newell Highway the upgrades are a welcome improvement with new northbound and southbound overtaking lanes south of Moree and a new northbound lane now open at Bellata Read our media release to find out more ImageCollapse the ImageNewell highway Narrabri Moree Project MapImage controls: The project includes over 20kms of heavy duty pavement upgrades along four sections (1 2,3 & 5) of the Newell between Narrabri and Moree.Key features include: Section 1 - looking southbound to Narrabri Section 1 - 10.7km to 13.3km north of Narrabri map Section 2 - 18.1km to 23.7km north of Narrabri at Edergoi map Section 3 - 46.4km to 50.8km north of Narrabri at Bellata map Section 5 - 88.2km to 96.2km north of Narrabri near Moree map Announcement to award tender for main construction to Fulton Hogan – 13 April 2022 Local job seeker and supplier networking sessions in Narrabri and Moree - 15 & 16 June 2022 Some documents on this page may not comply with accessibility requirements (WCAG) If you are having trouble accessing information in these documents, please contact us Distribution Lists  N2M HDPU Email ListValues to always add Personal Information Collection Notice: Transport for NSW is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring your personal and health information is managed according to law. Find out why we collect your personal information and how we use and manage it by reading our privacy statement or phone 13 22 13 to request a copy For further information about this project Email: newell.upgrade@transport.nsw.gov.au Narrabri to Moree Heavy Duty Pavements; PO Box 334 Transport for NSW recognise and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and care of Country We pay respect to traditional custodians and Elders past and present A town with just under 6000 homes will make way for 2000 more as the state readies for an injection of new industry into the area Set in one of NSW’s richest agricultural valleys the town of Narrabri and the shire that shares its name have long been a steady source of some of the country’s best cotton But as a key stop on a forthcoming new rail route, the town is anticipating some big changes, including an influx of new homes The town of Narrabri is a key stop along a new rail route A freight rail line to connect Melbourne and Brisbane the Inland Rail project involves extensive upgrades to 1000km of existing track and construction of a further 600km When the project is done – including the longest 306km link between Narrabri and Narromine – things are expected to change for towns along the route regional towns once considered off the beaten path can serve as new commercial hubs as goods are moved between some of the country’s biggest cities but a significant chunk — from Beveridge to Narromine — will be done by 2027 A portion of the work near Narrabri has been finished In anticipation of this inland thoroughfare the NSW government has positioned Narrabri as a key point on the journey and has just released a proposal to rezone parts of the shire to make way for more than 2000 new counted its population as roughly 12,000 with 5960 dwellings to accommodate its residents which will form a buffer between the new town centre and the Inland Port Precinct (where more intensive industries are proposed) is expected to generate hundreds of new employment opportunities alone the NSW government has proposed that at least 2100 dwellings are constructed over the next 20 years largely through infill development in flood-resilient locations in Narrabri West this residential area is expected to give rise to new local retail and associated services acting as a secondary local community meeting point Maitland street will retain its role as the centre for business activity within the town of Narrabri and will benefit from revitalisation through improved pedestrianisation and active transport connections An “eat street” concept will be developed in this area to create new opportunities for cafes and restaurants said that his office had worked closely with the state government on the plan and called the rezonings “a great outcome for Narrabri” Narrabri Shire Council Mayor Darrell Tiemens agreed As the second largest economy in the North West after Tamworth we must continue to stay on the front foot — and this rezoning proposal does exactly that."  called it “a great example of Council working hand in glove with the NSW Government to deliver great long-term planning outcomes for Narrabri and surrounding areas” Ms Moriarty spoke to the impact that projects such as the Inland Rail route have “More investment means more jobs for the next generation of Narrabri locals who will see their hometown transformed while retaining its much-loved charm and character.”  Are you interested in new homes in regional NSW? Check out our dedicated New Homes section third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. From Narrabri to South Africa – Sid Harvey and Joey Fowler are two Aussie rugby union stars on the rise. They joined forces to help Australia secure a 29-all draw with New Zealand to open the under 20s Rugby Championship. but we don't want to lose you.\"}],[\"$\",\"div\",null,{\"className\":\"notfound-page__text-block\",\"children\":\"We recently updated the way we organise our articles 'div-gpt-ad-1511396693346-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/728x90_Leaderboard_Position_1' 'div-gpt-ad-1511394032333-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/970x90_bottom_leaderboard' 'div-gpt-ad-1511396722471-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/728x90_Hompage_Leaderboard_Position_1' 'div-gpt-ad-1661741627089-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/undefinedTUD_Homepage_Internal_728x90' 'div-gpt-ad-1534480172990-0').addService(googletag.pubads());\n // home leaderboard (mobile)\n googletag.defineSlot('/34178149/970x90_top_leaderboard' 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population is less than 6000 a town of about 5500 and about six hours from Sydney by road would gain a mix of detached and medium-density housing as well as a new town centre under the state government plan\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe proposal includes three precincts employment and industry.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe residential precinct has been predicted “to accommodate the future projected population growth” of the area and provide “suitable flood-free land to support the NSW Reconstruction Authority’s voluntary buyback scheme for flood-affected houses with the Narrabri Shire”.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Narrabri Place Strategy which outlines the vision for the area that has about 13,000 people acknowledged that the main challenge in delivering homes was development feasibility.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt said that the median price at the time of the strategy for a standard detached house in Narrabri Shire was about $385,000 whereas the estimated cost of buying land and developing a standard detached house was $590,000 to $660,000.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHowever there are tailwinds that may help in the region stack up.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe population within Narrabri Shire was anticipated to increase to between 14,500 and 16,900 by 2041 especially to the employment lands precinct which is between the Newell Highway and the rail line.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe precinct which aims to attract light industries and commercial businesses would provide a buffer between the residential area and the Inland Port Precinct where more intensive industries were proposed the state said.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe town centre and retail areas would provide future employment and it was suggested in the strategy that a shopping centre of up to 7800sq m of retail floorspace would “be required to service future needs”.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNew health and aged-care facilities Lendlease’s third residential building in the Collins Wharf precinct of Victoria Harbour.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 28-storey building at 971 Collins Street in Melbourne’s Docklands will deliver 312 homes in a mix of one two and three-bedroom apartments as well as townhouses and penthouses.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAccording to Lendlease the project has already secured more than 50 per cent in presales.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHickory is the construction contractor—it completed the precinct’s first development in 2019 and is also working on LendLease’s second tower Regatta.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor Ancora Hickory is implementing several technical construction methods including various piling techniques and precast concrete solutions that enable a parallel-track construction program.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe building’s facade designed by architect Warren and Mahoney uses a three-stage design incorporating double-glazed glass and textured precast concrete with Reckli and brick finishes.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe structural design transitions from a solid podium base to lighter upper levels “reflecting a maritime theme” aligned with the Collins Wharf design objectives.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAncora will connect to the neighbouring Regatta development via a podium allowing resident access to shared amenities.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDesigned as an all-electric building that includes electric vehicle infrastructure the development is targeting a 5 Star Green Star certification Completion is expected in 2027.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRegatta including build-to-rent and build-to-sell units.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eExtensive wharf works including remediation of pre-existing wharf piles installation of raker piles and construction of the extension to Australia Walk are also part of the project.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTechnical challenges include constructing on the finger wharf and co-ordinating extensive above-wharf road reserve and public parkland works.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Collins Wharf precinct will ultimately comprise six residential buildings of more than 1800 homes surrounded by over 5000sq m of parks and community space.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLendlease is developing the parkland concurrently with the residential components including the extension of Australian Walk that forms part of the City of Melbourne’s Greenline project.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLendlease executive director of development Adam Williams said Collins Wharf “is fast becoming a sought-after address .. which took just a handful of hours to emerge on Saturday night the Coalition’s failure to sway voters has come under intense scrutiny.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts lack of policies around property that resonated with voters has been a large part of that criticism.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmong those policies was a $5-billion infrastructure program to unlock up to 500,000 new homes was greeted with no small amount of scepticism.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Coalition also campaigned on its previously revealed plan to allow first home buyers to draw down on their superannuation giving access to up to $50,000 to help fund mortgage deposits.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile that proposal had won some support it got the thumbs down from many of Australia’s top economists who said the measure could prove highly inflationary among other issues.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSimilarly its plan to allow mortgage interest for first home buyers to be tax-deductible was roundly criticised for its likely inflationary and regressive effects.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt has also been pointed out that the Coalition’s rejection of the Green’s policies around housing supply affordable housing and help for renters did it no favours.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe ALP went to the polls spruiking an extension of schemes introduced during its previous term including a $10-billion promise for its first-home buyers’ scheme to encourage 100,000 more homes.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt also had its Help to Buy shared equity scheme under which the Government pays up to 40 per cent of the house price to point to.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf it was these policies per se or the lack of detail and depth to the Coalition’s the nation's ready for the Albanese government to act.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat is clear been endorsed to follow through on its policies and fix the crisis that is crippling the Australian property sector.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs Urban Taskforce Australia chief executive\u0026nbsp;Tom\u0026nbsp;Forrest has pointed out it is time for the Federal Government to get back to work.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Housing affordability and housing supply featured large during the campaign,” Forrest said.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“The key now is for the Government to strike while the iron’s hot.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“If legislation is needed to support the delivery of Labor’s $10-billion 100,000 new homes commitment—then pass it through the parliament now and get on with it.”\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe states have made many changes to how they enable home development The Federal Government’s support of that is crucial to its success material supply assistance or any other factor that affects getting homes out of the ground.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis has been a pivotal election Then Cities for Total Fan Immersion\",\"slug\":\"billionaire-arsenal-rams-denver-nuggets-sports-anchored-precincts\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-30T00:00+10:00\",\"tags\":[],\"summary\":\"Why your next home might be stadium-adjacent; sports are the hook would gain a mix of detached and medium-density housing as well as a new town centre under the state government plan The residential precinct has been predicted “to accommodate the future projected population growth” of the area and provide “suitable flood-free land to support the NSW Reconstruction Authority’s voluntary buyback scheme for flood-affected houses with the Narrabri Shire” acknowledged that the main challenge in delivering homes was development feasibility It said that the median price at the time of the strategy for a standard detached house in Narrabri Shire was about $385,000 whereas the estimated cost of buying land and developing a standard detached house was $590,000 to $660,000 there are tailwinds that may help in the region stack up The population within Narrabri Shire was anticipated to increase to between 14,500 and 16,900 by 2041 creating a “pressing need” for rezoned land for housing which is between the Newell Highway and the rail line The town centre and retail areas would provide future employment and it was suggested in the strategy that a shopping centre of up to 7800sq m of retail floorspace would “be required to service future needs” childcare spaces and potential school sites near the village centre are also part of the rezoning proposal Further public infrastructure upgrades with improved sport and recreation facilities and active transport networks are also included Development applications can now be filed with the council for the three precincts that meet the requirements of the rezoning proposal and the Narrabri Local Environmental Plan 2012 Narrabri Shire mayor Darrell Tiemens said that Narrabri was the second largest economy in the north-west after Tamworth and that the rezoning proposal marked a “milestone moment” “We must continue to stay on the front foot—and this rezoning proposal does exactly that,” Tiemens said This article is brought to you by the Narrabri Region Narrabri is a hidden gem in northern New South Wales that sits halfway between Sydney and Brisbane It’s a 6.5-hour drive from both capital cities.   For local resident Jo Hannaford, the best part about visiting Narrabri is seeing Mt Kaputar – not from one viewpoint The summit of Mt Kaputar stands 1510m above sea level more than five times the height of Sydney’s tallest skyscraper resulting in a scene so picturesque it’ll fill your camera memory.  “You’ve only got to look up on any given occasion Yesterday we had storms and there was mist on the mountain And the way the light hit some of the rock formations You can’t help but keep looking at it during your day.”  Narrabri gives you the chance to slow down It’s something you don’t often get to do in a city you’ll get a real sense of community,” Jo says “You can get to know people – not like the city where you’re anonymous and everyone’s in the world’s greatest hurry Another reason Jo says the region is worth a visit is that it’s the only place to see Mount Kaputar pink slugs neon-pink slugs native to the region were under threat of extinction after the Black Summer bushfires but have recently been spotted by locals in large numbers.  Jo shares some of the best things to do while you’re in Narrabri formed by lava flows some 18 million years ago make walking through Mt Kaputar National Park incredibly special Some of the best include Sawn Rocks walking track Kaputar Plateau walk and Mt Kaputar summit walk.  “There are places in Mt Kaputar National Park that rival the Blue Mountains,” Jo says so on any given day you can be the only person on a hike or the only car in the park besides the rangers’ [cars].”  Mount Kaputar is also a great place to catch sunrise or sunset it’s just a five-minute walk to the viewpoint.  If the weather conditions are right, sometimes you’ll be treated to a stunning sunrise or sunset from the plains. The entire sky will light up with pinks, reds and yellows. “You can just be driving along the Newell Highway here and [see] the sunsets,” Jo says. “It’s a photographer’s dream out here. It’s amazing.” Orion’s Belt and sometimes even the planets.   “We’ve recently had the ATLAS comet appear,” Jo says “We even had a very faint Aurora experience several months ago you might even spot the International Space Station passing overhead you don’t need a telescope or a dedicated viewing spot Jo suggests you find somewhere with an unobstructed view of the sky Another must-do is to camp at Yarrie Lake saucer-shaped body of water thought to have been formed by a falling meteor thousands of years ago.   “It’s a fantastic spot for camping and for sunsets You’ve also got water activities you can do there.”  If this campsite doesn’t strike your fancy, there’s also Primitive Campground at Pilliga Artesian Bore Bath free camping at Rocky Creek Glacial Area and two campgrounds – Dawsons Spring and Bark Hut – in Mt Kaputar National Park You can also camp on several privately owned properties Camping along Namoi River at Riverside Farm Retreat soak your tired muscles in the natural healing waters at Pilliga Artesian Bore Bath The waters have been running into the bore bath for well over a century and are almost always naturally 37.1°C “It’s like having an Epsom salt bath,” Jo says. “Every time you hop in there, they’ve got all these other essential minerals that are good for your skin or if you’ve got any arthritis. It’s just super soothing. You can stay in the campgrounds adjacent, and if you stay there three or four days, it’s like having a mini-health retreat.”  By subscribing you become an AG Society member helping us to raise funds for conservation and adventure projects Read the latest news from the Narromine to Narrabri section of Inland Rail Find out about where we are conducting investigations works as well as how the community can get in touch with our team Our ongoing schedule of site investigations and surveys along the Narromine to Narrabri section is continuing in 2025 at multiple locations Soil erosion testing between Narromine and Gilgandra wrapped up in March Hydrology specialists are now analysing the samples collected to determine water flow speeds in different locations This data will inform the design of drainage structures We’ve completed geotechnical investigations between Narromine and Coonamble Crews will take a well-earned break and are scheduled to return to site in May the borrow pit geotechnical team completed their scope around Gilgandra and are now progressing to sites between Baradine and Narrabri locals will also see biodiversity investigation teams flood level surveyors and utility investigators in the field Our work is not possible without the continued support and proactive collaboration from alignment landowners We appreciate and value your commitment to progressing Inland Rail in the central west we kick off a program of utility investigations in the southern part of the Narrabri to Narromine section These investigations identify and map services to prevent damage during future construction and prevent dangerous and costly accidents Our work will also include confirming the height of all overhead power lines Our contractor MinStaff Survey will deploy a small crew of field surveyors to collect the data Here’s what you may see if you spot the team on site: the data will inform preliminary designs and help determine if the utility will need to be lowered To see our current and upcoming program of work, visit our works notifications page Works Notices Inland Rail partnered with Engineers Australia to build our Graduate Development Program enabling the best young minds to contribute to Australia’s largest rail infrastructure project a top recruit has graduated as a Project Engineer and is working on site Read his story We’ll return to your local Ag shows in May Our community shopfront remains open every weekday Pop by and get the latest news on Inland Rail Phone: 1800 732 761 Email: inlandrailnsw@inlandrail.com.au Keeping you informed about the Narromine to Narrabri section’s design development and our proposed impact mitigation actions is important to us and we will continue working with the community to ensure the best possible outcomes for the region Learn more Inland Rail is a 1,600km freight rail line, now under construction. It will connect Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Learn more about the project. Inland Rail is a 1,600km freight rail line now under construction in Australia. This map provides an overview of the Inland Rail project alignment between Melbourne and Brisbane, via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Inland Rail will better link businesses, manufacturers and producers to national and global markets and generate opportunities for industries and regions during construction and beyond. Discover how Inland Rail is bringing long-term benefits to Australia. The Narromine to Narrabri project in mid-north western New South Wales is Inland Rail’s longest section of track. The project comprises approximately 306km of new rail corridor and track. When complete, it will enable freight trains to connect with the section of Inland Rail under construction between Narrabri and… Inland Rail Pty Ltd is a subsidiary of Australian Rail Track Corporation. ABN 73 094 819 520 CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) This quarter has seen a flurry of activity across the Narromine to Narrabri section from site investigations to crucial meetings with many of our important stakeholders we kicked off discussions with directly impacted landowners to further understand how they operate their properties and the infrastructure they use Information gathered from these discussions is documented in Individual Property Management Plans The plans will help us manage unique landowner requirements inform Inland Rail’s final design in their vicinity and will be shared with construction contractors to minimise any impacts at that point We thank those landowners who have cooperated with us during this important stage in the development of the Narromine to Narrabri section Last week, Inland Rail CEO Nick Miller met with representatives from local councils along the Narromine to Narrabri section to give a project update and listen to their perspectives about Inland Rail Meanwhile, geotechnical investigations resumed last week around Narromine after a short break due to wet weather Soil erosion testing in the Gilgandra area has been hampered by heavy rain putting on hold the remaining 2024 schedule Both investigation activities will resume after the holiday break in January. To get the latest information on all our current and upcoming work check out the works notification page on our website As we down tools for the year, thank you to everyone for your continued patience, cooperation and support. We’re proud to look back on our successes and preview another bumper year progressing the Narromine to Narrabri section Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve achieved on the Narromine to Narrabri section this year: Here’s an overview of the activities we’re planning: Image caption: An excavator ready to dig a test pit as part of geotechnical investigations We will update the community in the new year with further details about this upcoming work schedule everyone at Inland Rail wishes you a safe and restful festive season We thank you for your ongoing engagement and feedback on the project Autumn edition of the Narromine to Narrabri quarterly printed newsletter which keeps alignment communities updated about the latest project news and important milestones at Inland Rail teams from our contractors Minstaff Surey and CMW Geosciences are completing site investigations on private land potentially suitable for borrow pits (or small quarries) and identifying the location of various services such as water pipes drainage and sewage pipelines across Narromine we’re conducting utility investigations in the southern part of the Narromine to Narrabri section Inland Rail Pty Ltd is a subsidiary of Australian Rail Track Corporation Inland Rail site investigation and survey programs across the Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 alignment are continuing in 2025 Our contractor Macquarie Geotech has been conducting geotechnical investigations at various locations to help us confirm soil types and earth structures The teams have braved the elements and heavy rain and we’d like to thank the community for their continued patience and cooperation as some work schedules have changed at the last minute Further geotechnical investigations will occur after cotton picking season in April to ensure there’s no impact on operations One shining light among all the downpours happened when a member of the Macquarie Geotech team helped rescue and return a dog to its owner after it was spotted wandering near the alignment Our Erosion Threshold Velocity (ETV) investigations wrapped up in February at four sites over a two-day period ETV testing provides information about erosion at known flooding areas that will inform our mitigation measures for flood impacts during detailed design Soil sampling was completed according to schedule and we are awaiting results back from the testing lab We’d again like to thank those landowners whose properties we accessed for their excellent guidance around their property Download ETV Fact Sheet A big thank you to all the landowners we visited recently to discuss upcoming surveys to measure floor levels of some properties near the proposed Inland Rail alignment If you receive a letter from Inland Rail regarding these hydrology surveys, please call 1800 732 761 or email our Stakeholder Engagement teams on inlandrailnsw@inlandrail.com.au and we’ll step you through what’s involved Insights and data from these surveys will help us refine our understanding of the local hydrology environment and flooding impacts Specialist ecologists recently completed site investigations to spot the grey snake and completed studies of vegetation areas identified as potential koala habitats Outcomes from these investigations and studies will be included in a Biodiversity Development Assessment Report for the Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 segment that Inland Rail will issue to the NSW Department of Planning This follows a request for further information from DPHI received following submission of the Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 Preferred Infrastructure and Response to Submissions reports in late 2024  Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 section info Inland Rail site investigation and survey programs across the Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 alignment are continuing in 2025. In 2021, Inland Rail partnered with Engineers Australia to build our Graduate Development Program, enabling the best young minds to contribute to Australia’s largest rail infrastructure project. Four years later, a top recruit has graduated as a Project Engineer and is now working on site, supporting the Northern NSW team. In our final update for 2024 we bring you the latest news on our progress towards gaining environmental approvals, celebrate this year’s achievements and preview what’s coming up in 2025. As we head into the festive season, we want to thank all our stakeholders and the wider community for supporting us during another busy year. “From the moment we arrived in Roma, we enjoyed wonderful hospitality and a show of what country rugby is all about. We are expecting the same welcome in Narrabri,” Kiss said. What is rare are the stunning geological sites you can walk alongside carved by flowing lava from a volcano active 18 million years ago and its remnants form Mount Kaputar National Park home to about a dozen nature walks.   “Because not a lot of people know about it yet you can be the only person on a trail,” says Jo Hannaford a Narrabri resident of 35 years and tourism officer for the region watching the big wedge-tailed eagles soaring and you won’t see much evidence of humans at all The serenity of it – you’ve got to experience it to believe it a member of Narrabri Region’s Bushwalking Club shares some of her favourite walks to do in the area Sunset View Image credits: Narrabri Region The most known walk in Mount Kaputar National Park is Mount Kaputar Summit Walk Yulludunida Crater and Coryah Gap are the best challenging walks on the mountain.  Park at Dawsons Spring picnic area where the trail starts and then walk among towering eucalyptus for 1km to a lookout point at the summit you can see 10 per cent of NSW,” Hannaford says Could you imagine that at sunrise or sunset If you’re keen to see sunrise or sunset from the summit, consider booking a night or two at Dawsons Spring cabins in the park. The summit also has a carpark mere minutes’ away, so if you want to witness it but don’t want to do the walk, you can park there. Sawn Rocks Walking Track is a 1.5km return track that’s wheelchair- and pram-friendly The walk goes along a shaded creek bed and reaches Sawn Rocks Lookout “If you go down next to the creek and explore there A lot of people love to play with photos of Sawn Rocks because it’s so photogenic ”The highlight of this walk is the unusual rock formation at the lookout a reminder of Mount Kaputar’s volcanic past Bring snacks for a picnic at the Sawn Rocks picnic area Another of Hannaford’s trail picks is Waa Gorge Walking Track “You’re working your way along the creek and then up into the mouth of the gorge,” Hannaford says “Each side you have these stunning cliff faces To get to the carpark for the start of Waa Gorge Walking Track, you’ll need to drive about 40km along gravel road, so you’ll ideally have a four-wheel drive. The track passes Mill-bullah waterholes, twin rock pools where you can swim. So if you think you’ll be keen to cool off after the walk, bring your swimmers. Located in Pilliga Forest, Sandstone Caves Walking Track sees you walking in the steps of the Gamilaraay people on a 1.7km loop You’ll pass forests to reach sandstone hills with ancient Aboriginal rock engravings Stop here to read plaques explaining the meaning of the engravings and get a deeper appreciation for this special place “The Pilliga Forest is large – a million wild acres,” Hannaford says “It’s one of the largest native forests in Australia and was once used for logging – cypress pine and ironbark They used the ironbark for railway sleepers to help build railway lines Hannaford also suggests you do the 3km-return Sculptures in the Scrub Walk in Pilliga Forest. Four years in the making, the walk weaves around Aboriginal sculptures, commissioned with guidance from Aboriginal elders. Signage along the path explains the inspiration behind, and the meaning of, each sculpture. Pilliga Forest Sculptures and Sandstone Caves A mockup of the Narrabri Community Battery New South Wales’ Narrabri Shire Council has put signing a crucial agreement for the installation of a community battery on the backburner Council had been engaging in negotiations with local non-profit Geni.Energy Limited on the terms of a licence agreement for the construction and operation of a community battery since 2023. At Council’s meeting in March this year the organisation endorsed the terms of the agreement The 500 kWh battery system is to be installed in the Narrabri Town Hall car park which is also home to a couple of NRMA EV chargers There would be no costs to Council and the community battery will be owned and operated by Geni.Energy Among the benefits according to Geni.Energy: The 2 x 250 kWh batteries are based lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) technology widely regarded as the safest lithium-ion chemistry a dedicated air conditioner and heat and smoke detectors that can trigger an aerosol fire suppressant system it will be installed on several concrete culverts 900mm high and have railings around the edge of the culverts an additional 1 metre high The project has been funded by the federal Community Batteries for Household Solar program The battery is ready to go according to Geni.Energy – paid for All that was left to do was get the signature of Council’s General Manager on the licensing agreement But during the Narrabri Shire Council ordinary meeting held last week, it was decided the March endorsement be rescinded Council will delay signing of the licence agreement for a minimum of three months to allow Councillors to get fully across a number of concerns some have; mainly around safety and financial benefit sharing Although representatives from Distributed Network Service Provider (DNSP) Essential Energy engineering firm NJM Design and battery manufacturer Evo Power confirmed the low risks associated with the community battery at the meeting after a lengthy debate Councillors voted with a majority of five to two to pass the rescission motion Geni.Energy Managing Director Sally Hunter was hugely disappointed with the outcome “It was a pretty disgraceful situation. The good news is I was so thrilled with the community support,” Ms. Hunter said “We had 60 or 70 letters of support into the council We had 20 phone calls of support into Council We had 6 or 7 people put their name down to speak It was just very clear how much community support there was.” The support isn’t surprising given Narrabri is a rooftop solar power stronghold more than 2,858 small-scale PV systems with a collective capacity of 14,196 kW had been installed as at the end of February this year That’s pretty impressive for a population of around 7,600 Ms. Hunter says Council’s decision gives Geni.Energy no path forward, but to stay tuned. The clock is ticking on the funding agreement and there’s Narrabri community pride at stake – Geni.Energy says it was one of only two not-for-profits in the nation awarded federal funding in the 2023 round The Narrabri Community Battery saga follows another recent electrification-related local government backflip.  At its April 15 meeting, Queensland’s Livingstone Shire Council delayed plans to install the first public EV charging stations on the Capricorn Coast based on a Channel 7 anti-EV beat-up Michael caught the solar power bug after purchasing components to cobble together a small off-grid PV system in 2008 He's been reporting on Australian and international solar energy news ever since can I point out to the Mayor that I have an EV I also have a kitchen sink and the SS sink has more nickel in it than the battery of my EV Please keep the SolarQuotes blog constructive and useful with these 5 rules: Real names are preferred - you should be happy to put your name to your comments.2 If you are in the solar industry - try to get to the truth This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value"  RSS - Posts Read The Good Solar Guide Free Online! © 2009 to 2025 SolarQuotes Home Electrification Pty Ltd We respect your privacy and you can opt out from the newsletter at any time The Australian and NSW Governments have committed $13.1 million to replace Spring Creek Bridge over Spring Creek on the Kamilaroi Highway Construction on the new Spring Creek Bridge on the Kamilaroi Highway in north-western NSW is set to start with residents tourists and freight operators set to benefit from a wider For more information, read the latest media release For more information read the August project update (PDF, 915.5 KB) Work to build the new Spring Creek Bridge on the Kamilaroi Highway near Narrabri is expected to start in September 2024 Following a competitive tender process, Saunders Civilbuild Pty Ltd has been confirmed as the successful contractor to build the new 64-metre-long bridge. For more information, read the full media release. ImageCollapse the ImageSpring Creek Bridge mapImage controls: Spring Creek Bridge is a major crossing over Spring Creek on the Kamilaroi Highway The bridge is an important link for road users travelling on the Kamilaroi Highway between Narrabri and Wee Waa as well as for the local community and agricultural industry The existing bridge is an eight-cell cast in-situ reinforced concrete box culvert structure which was built in 1968 Spring Creek Bridge has previously been subject to heavy vehicle restrictions and detours while essential safety works were carried out to reinforce the bridge structure This project will see the existing bridge replaced with a new wider bridge that meets modern design standards and current and future road network requirements longer lasting structure which will improve access for wide loads and improve safety for all vehicles A Review of Environment Factors (REF) (PDF, 52.34 MB) was determined in May 2023 and can be viewed in the document links on this page Saunders Civilbuild Pty Ltd was confirmed as the successful contractor to build the new 64-metre-long bridge over Spring Creek on the Kamilaroi Highway Construction officially commenced on 16 September 2024 the next step will be the start of piling work for the new bridge with piling alone expected to use more than 260 cubic metres of locally-sourced concrete and about 60 tonnes of steel reinforcement First Name  Last Name  Email  Phone  Post Code  Distribution Lists  Spring Creek Bridge - Email ListValues to always add Email:western.projects@transport.nsw.gov.au unions and crossbench MPs unite against Santos’ Narrabri Gas Project Gomeroi traditional owners and Union members including members from the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives Association united to speak with members of the NSW Government about the importance and cultural significance of the Pilliga Forest to the Gomeroi as well as raise their concerns around the climate and health impacts from CSG mining associated with the proposed expansion of the Narrabri gas project and the part the state plays in the Native Title redetermination Michelle Cutmoore from the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives Association & Gomeroi woman says ‘I’m against the destruction of Gomeroi lands & Cultural sites it will block reclamation of culture and be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of Mob.’ Proud Gomeroi woman Karra Kinchella says ‘I’ve been lobbying at NSW Parliament to speak to politicians about the Narrabri Gas project & pipelines Joining with Unions to gather support and show there is no social license for the Narrabri Gas Project and the government needs to back their promise from the election around climate and a just transition to renewables.’ Peggy Smith from the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives association says ‘We are asking the state government to follow its own Climate Change Act and ministerial statements on energy and emissions and follow up on those commitments to develop a Gas Decarbonisation Roadmap while acknowledging Close the Gap targets and the negative detriments to health and environment that this gas project and associated pipelines will affect.’ the MUA's Assistant National Secretary joined the delegation at NSW Parliament and commended the grassroots organising across unions to defend Gomeroi cultural sites and First Nations' peoples rightful claims to their land "We are seeing a groundswell of activism at the intersection between environmentalism increase emissions and prevent Gomeroi people from exercising their lawful claim under Native Title laws," Mr Mayo said “The NSW Government should listen to the Gomeroi people the science and the economic reality that the Santos CSG mining project will be more damaging than beneficial Job and energy prospects from the nearby offshore wind farm zone that Federal Minister Chris Bowen recently announced are far more promising for the region's future," Mayo added There was one question that reoccurred throughout the day of meetings and that was "Are you meeting with the Minister for natural resources Courtney Houssos?" Unfortunately Courtney Houssos has not responded to requests to meet with the First Nations representatives however they are all still very eager to meet and discuss their concerns with her Gomeroi Traditional Owners voted overwhelmingly against Santos’ Narrabri Gas Project Santos would drill 850 gas wells on farmland and in the Pilliga Forest Gomeroi people consider the forest and groundwater sacred the Native Title Tribunal ruled in favour of Santos Gomeroi Traditional Owners challenged that decision in the Federal Court the Federal Court ruled in March this year that the Native Title Tribunal should have considered the Narrabri Gas Project’s contribution to climate change when applying the public interest test The NGP is expected to be responsible for at least 120 million tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution if built.> are now supplying information to the Native Title Tribunal and the Tribunal is expected to make a new determination early next year it will only be the fourth time in Australian history that a Traditional Owner group has successfully overturned a major project approval through the NTT (and the first time outside of Western Australia) The Seaman's Union of Australia and Waterside Workers Federation merge to create the Maritime Union of Australia (1993) The lead-up to the merger saw the Marine Cooks Bakers and Butchers Association (formed in 1908) amalgamated with the SUA in 1983 and the Federated Marine Stewards and Pantrymen's Association merged in 1988 In 1991 the Professional Divers Association also amalgamated with the S.U.A Over the last couple of months members of our Stakeholder Engagement team have been speaking with impacted landowners about fieldwork we need to complete and how best to arrange access to their properties We’ve progressed with our schedule and want to thank all landowners who have collaborated with us Upcoming fieldwork will include geotechnical investigations for borrow pit sites Plans are underway to resume geotechnical investigations between Narromine and Gilgandra by the end of October We are hoping to complete work across a total of 14 sites identified as potential borrow pits We will notify the local community with exact work dates and more details of the scope in a few weeks’ time Borrow pits are small quarries that provide earth materials (soil rock and gravel) to be used in construction The new construction ‘fill’ is used to build track embankments or for earthworks around new bridge structures to ensure the track remains as flat as possible across varied terrain crews will drill boreholes as deep as 15m and dig test pits as deep as 5m to test soil composition The soil samples collected are sent to a laboratory for detailed analysis The number of boreholes and test pits dug at each site will depend on the estimated size of each proposed borrow pit and the type of construction material we are hoping to extract Inland Rail has been investigating potential borrow pit locations along the Narromine to Narrabri (N2N) section since 2019 Where ground conditions potentially meet our technical requirements we work closely with landowners to discuss whether a commercial arrangement to obtain earth materials is agreeable to both parties Inland Rail will also be required to meet relevant environmental regulations around the borrow pits including consideration of traffic impacts One of the most important tasks we’ve had to carry out since the Inland Rail review was published in April last year has been to gain more certainty about the project’s scope and cost. This year we’ve been speaking with more landowners about upcoming fieldwork we need to complete to help us refine the project’s design to better understand the scope of the Narromine to Narrabri section Refining the design means reviewing the engineering assumptions and decisions made so far using new data and information It involves creating and testing models of the railway and supporting infrastructure and updating them when new detail about the environment emerges Usually this is based on ground surveys and data gathered in the exact locations where Inland Rail will be built through a review of publicly available data and consultation with engineering experts we have proposed a bridge over a creek and further decisions made about specific elements (such as its length and depth of supporting piers) once we have completed a ground survey of the area including a hydrology review and geotechnical investigations Close consultation and input from impacted landowners councils and local agencies informs design decisions at all stages of the design process So Inland Rail can finalise its designs for the Narromine to Narrabri section we need the continued permission of landowners to access their properties using land access agreements Thank you to the many landowners who have recently collaborated with us to enable these essential works Image caption: A visualisation of an embankment leading to an overbridge over Yarrie Lake Road For more information about the Narromine to Narrabri section of Inland Rail, phone: 1800 732 761 or email inlandrailnsw@inlandrail.com.au Explore:  Narromine to Narrabri Section What is Inland Rail? This information sheet provides details about the Pilliga forests portion which comprises approximately one quarter of the 306km Narromine to Narrabri greenfield rail project In our final update for 2024 we bring you the latest news on our progress towards gaining environmental approvals celebrate this year’s achievements and preview what’s coming up in 2025 we want to thank all our stakeholders and the wider community for supporting us during another busy year Inland Rail CEO Nick Miller joined members of the local Stakeholder Engagement team for a catch up with Moree Plains Shire Council Wayne Tighe and Senior Council staff on Inland Rail’s progress and was keen to hear Council’s perspectives on the project and all parties committed to working closely to achieve the best outcomes for the Moree community and Infrastructure (DPHI) accepted our Response to Submissions Report (RtS) and Preferred Infrastructure Report (PIR) and both documents are now publicly available online The reports outline how Inland Rail is addressing public and government agency submissions received in response to the PIR and RtS as well as requests by the planning authority. All documents are available on the NSW Government’s Major Projects website We anticipate the environmental approval process will continue into the first half of 2025 DPHI will provide a recommendation to the NSW Minister for Planning for consideration the proposal will be referred to the Australian Government for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 They will help us manage unique landowner requirements inform Inland Rail’s final design in their vicinity and be shared with construction contractors to minimise any impacts at that point We thank the landowners who have cooperated with us during this important stage in the development of the North Star Phase 2 section here’s a recap of our achievements on the N2NS Phase 2 section: Here’s what’s in store along the Phase 2 alignment next year: a top recruit has graduated as a Project Engineer and is now working on site Don’t miss any of the important stories from around the region. Subscribe to our email list Sign up to get daily news updates so you don't miss a thing An independent news site based in New England LIVESTREAM TIMES: Friday 6 December(Broadcast Begins around 10.00 am) Qualifying for the Women’s NSW Open Golf Championship has gone regional and Narrabri Golf Club is host for event three in the six tournament series Six fantastic venues across the state will host 36 holes of action with the leading two placegetters securing their place in the 2025 championship to be held at Wollongong Golf Club Resort in March The Women’s New South Wales Open Golf Championship boasts some of the sport’s most famous female athletes on its honour roll Dame Laura Davies and current world number one Contact us here at Golf NSW and we will try to assist Narrabri is preparing to cement itself as a regional leader in renewable energy The town is just months away from building a community battery set to make it easier for locals to access cheaper power during peak periods The University of Sydney’s research station recently hosted around 250 delegates from diverse backgrounds The event was sponsored by the Sydney Institute of Agriculture and Australia Grains Technology (AGT) which was followed by a speech from the Dean of Science Some of the research projects showcased by the University included: funded through the Australian Government National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) will deliver cutting-edge plant phenotyping infrastructure (including robotic and drone-based platforms) environmental monitoring solutions and data support for researchers in academia and industry Our node's research support services will be delivered as part of the Sydney Informatics Hub, one of the University's eight core research facilities. This reflects the importance that we place on delivering world-class research support services and emphasises the need for high-quality data collection and analysis protocols. The node will open the door to new research opportunities that require next-generation phenomics sensors and analysis techniques. Additionally, as part of the wider APPN network, the new node presents new opportunities for Australia-wide collaborative research, with a standardised suite of sensors, data collection protocols and analytical workflows in nodes across the country. Share via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe Santos chief executive Kevin Gallagher has called on state and federal energy ministers to clear the way for the stalled Narrabri gas project in NSW as they consider emergency action to ease the growing supply crisis in the south-eastern states Speaking after the oil and gas producer posted a slightly weaker-than-expected 14 per cent drop in full-year profit Gallagher said that a big part of the solution to the problem was sitting in plain sight SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy link Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Inland Rail has been recognised by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council with an ‘Excellent’ As Built rating for the Narrabri to North Star Phase 1 project The commendation was presented to Andrew Aitken Inland Rail Principal Sustainability Advisor at the Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) annual Certification Dinner event at Linseed House at The Grounds of Alexandria in Sydney on Tuesday night The Narrabri to North Star Phase 1 project impressed the Sustainability Council with several key achievements along its 176 kilometres of upgraded track which makes it the longest linear infrastructure project certified by the ISC Among the upgrades were improvements to seven bridges and increased safety at 57 level crossings with 10 passive level crossings upgraded to active with bells The Narrabri to North Star Phase 1 upgrades deliver a more efficient and reliable railway for local producers boosting resilience against extreme weather events with the track withstanding the worst flood in a decade to hit Moree in 2022 During construction the project made use of a new steel rail shape developed by Australian steel manufacturer Liberty Primary Steel for Inland Rail that improves contact between a train’s wheels and the tracks This improved profile reduces the need for minor revisions in the form of steel grinding that takes place in the commissioning stage and reduces the safety risk of critical hot work after installation The Narrabri to North Star Phase 1 project also reused earthworks which supported the rails significantly reducing the volume of new earth required The Sustainability Council panel also noted that the environmental offsets originally secured for the Narrabri to North Star Phase 1 project far exceeded its final impact leading to an 86% improvement in ecological values and demonstrating the project’s commitment to minimising environmental effects It was not just the environment which benefited from Inland Rail’s hard work: more than $246.4 million was spent with 137 local businesses during construction including more than $9.4 million spent with First Nations businesses More than 2000 people worked on the project including 678 locals of whom 185 were First Nations residents The Narrabri to North Star Phase 1 project is the fourth Inland Rail project to receive an ISC commendation, following on from the ‘Excellent’ Design rating for the Stockinbingal to Parkes project the ‘Excellent’ as Built rating for Parkes to Narromine and the ‘Excellent’ Design rating for Narrabri to North Star And in 2020 Inland Rail exceeded its sustainability targets on the first completed section of the railway project between Parkes and Narromine with the redeployment of more than 98% of the existing steel rail track and recycling nearly 47,000 timber sleepers “It was an honour for us to be able to collect this certificate on behalf of Inland Rail in front of our peers across the infrastructure industry “The ‘Excellent’ As Built rating demonstrates the levels of commitment to sustainability we hold dear at Inland Rail where a team of professionals dedicate themselves to achieving excellence in this key field “The Narrabri to North Star project is yet another example of Inland Rail’s ongoing commitment to sustainability Caption: Inland Rail’s sustainability team receive an ‘Excellent’ As Built rating commendation at the Infrastructure Sustainability Council Certification Dinner in Sydney Liam West (Inland Rail Sustainability Advisors) Andrew Aitken (Inland Rail Principal Sustainability Advisor) and Suzanne Walker (Infrastructure Sustainability Council Project Manager) Explore more: The Project Benefits Opportunities Media Centre Download Map Access images Information hub Visualisations for the two Hume Freeway sites and the Marchbanks Road bridge replacement in Broadford have been released by Inland Rail before construction begins later this year The new Seymour-Avenel Road bridge is open to traffic following the completion of works by Inland Rail Local and First Nations businesses and community members in Wagga Wagga will have a chance to find out about potential commercial opportunities on the Albury to Illabo section of the Inland Rail project at a ‘Meet the Contractor’ event being held in town tomorrow A unique ‘health hub’ will soon open its doors in a bid to help fill gaps in services across Narrabri The new centre comes as Wee Waa locals continue fighting to keep their town’s hospital open.