A number of test pits and bore holes are being drilled on Jones Avenue, on the corner of Gosport Street, to inspect the type and strength of rock and soil conditions to inform the detailed design of a proposed overpass over the railway line in preparation for the Inland Rail.

The road-over-rail bridge will be an extension to Jones Avenue on the western side of the rail, crossing over to join with Tycannah Street on the eastern side.

The proposed design passes over Gosport Street and the Moree Bypass, and will allow access over the line for both traffic and pedestrians.

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton was in Moree on Wednesday to inspect the geotechnical work taking place, along with Moree Plains Shire Council mayor Katrina Humphries.

Mr Coulton said the work is part of the survey work being completed for the Narrabri to North Star section of the rail line and will form the plan for the next stage of the project which will involve the construction of the line and the infrastructure around the line.

“One of the concerns of the community here was the connection over to the eastern side of town, particularly when a train comes through it won’t be able to stop, but also the feeling of keeping that connection open,” he said. 

“So this overpass will not only separate the Inland Rail from traffic but also provide pedestrian access across the line as well.”

With the increasing train activity on the line that the Inland Rail will bring, it was felt an overbridge was necessary to connect the eastern side of town with the western, particularly for emergency vehicles.

The overbridge is expected to attract local traffic only, with no connectivity between the new bridge and the Moree Bypass. 

Cr Humphries said it was great to finally see work happening on the Inland Rail.

“It’s really exciting because for many years it was like the big inland myth but now it’s the big Inland Rail and it is happening,” she said.

“This geotech stuff is a very important forerunner of all the development that goes on and I’m confident the geotech will come up and find this is one tough bit of dirt on this side of town, it’s high, it’s dry, it’s out of flood.

“I hope in years to come that future generations will look back on the Inland Rail as we look back on the Snowy Mountain Scheme; that it was an absolute amazing decision, a brave decision and one that will change the whole way we move grain and move everything on the whole eastern side of Australia.”

Mr Coulton said once the Narrabri to North Star rail line is upgraded, it’ll have the capacity to take higher limit trains, and when the whole project is complete it will provide a significant boost to areas like Moree.

“We’ve already got growers now loading trains north of Moree and the opportunities for running larger trains will attract more grain into this area to be freighted out,” he said.

“The potential in Moree, Narrabri, Narromine, places like that, to be an accumulation centre for grain and for the growers here, cheaper freight options but in the bigger picture, the opportunity for other businesses to locate here, not only to have an access to every port in Australia but also every capital city in Australia.

“I honestly don’t think we can see the full potential. I think Moree will be a vastly different place in 50 years time because of the impact of the Inland Rail.”

Australian Rail Track Corporation Inland Rail Division Chief Executive Officer Peter Winder said the North West stands to benefit from more than $400 million worth in economic activity as a result of the Inland Rail.

“There will be new opportunities for farmers and producers that come from cheaper and easier access to domestic and international markets; and new business opportunities such as intermodal hubs,” he said.

“That’s not to mention job creation during construction and the increased activity in local shops and businesses.

“We’d like to thank the local community for their feedback and engagement so far. We held a number of drop in information sessions in the region in November, including two in Moree.

“There will be more opportunities for residents, landowners and businesses to input into the project as we progress towards construction. I encourage anyone with any questions to get in contact with us on 1800 732 761 or through the Inland Rail website.”

Further investigations into the Moree rail line will be taking place over the next few weeks, and locals can expect to see surveyors and other technical experts out in the field.

Find out how ARTC has been helping NW NSW Farmers get more return at the farm gate here: http://www.artc.com.au/megatrain/