Feasibility design contract awarded for Inland Rail in New South Wales
10 May 2018
Federal Government: The
Australian Government is continuing to progress the
Melbourne to
Brisbane
Inland
Rail, with a $6 million contract awarded for
feasibility design work
between Illabo and Stockinbingal in
New South Wales.
Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
Michael McCormack said the contract is one of many set to be awarded
this year for the 1,700km project.
“Today's contract award continues our commitment to see the project
delivered, with construction in parts of New South Wales set to commence
in 2018, creating thousands of
jobs along the way,” Mr McCormack said.
“Residents of this region will know the importance of the Bethungra
Spiral in supporting local farmers, which was delivered during the
Second World War by our parents and grandparents, with its construction
a significant engineering and technological feat of the time.
“Local know-how helped deliver this Spiral, and today we are looking at
how we can draw on local skills and ingenuity again, by designing a
section of
rail that allows us to achieve a freight connection between
Melbourne to
Brisbane in less than 24 hours—which is what this contract
will help to achieve.”
Minister for Finance Mathias Cormann said the feasibility design
contract, awarded to
WSP Australia Pty Ltd and
Mott MacDonald Pty Ltd
trading as IRDJV, was part of the Australian Government's commitment to
strengthen private sector investment in regional communities.
“New South Wales alone is set to see more than $2.6 billion in economic
benefits flowing from the Inland Rail's construction and operation, with
$16 billion nationwide,” Minister Cormann said.
“This phase is highly detailed, taking up to two years to complete, and
forms a crucial part of identifying engineering solutions for the route.
“The investigations undertaken will provide the
Australian Rail Track
Corporation (ARTC) with information about local geography, hydrology,
flora and fauna, as well as air quality, noise and social factors to
inform the feasibility design of the route.”
Construction works on the Illabo to Stockinbingal project will not
commence until all necessary approvals have been received. More
information about the Inland Rail project is available at
www.inlandrail.com.au
--ENDS--
Source: Australian Government - www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au
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