The huge industrial estate set to become Narrabri's "inland port" will be even bigger than initially predicted as council seeks to take advantage of the Inland Rail project.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Narrabri Shire Council General Manager Stewart Todd revealed the council are considering buying extra land for the project.
Doing so would make the business park "the premier industrial and logistics hub development in North West NSW," he said in an announcement online.
The $9.3 billion Inland Rail project, which will link Brisbane and Melbourne by train, is set to start work in Narrabri later this year.
READ MORE:
Once completed the 1,700km freight rail network will form the backbone of the national freight rail network. The Australian Rail Track Corporation claims it will take less than a day for freight to be shipped from Victoria to Queensland.
Narrabri council plans to construct an "inland port" near the rail line through town.
Council has recently finalised the purchase of 240 hectares of land for the industrial and logistics hub, the GM said.
And, "due to significant business interest since the launch of the (inland port) prospectus in September 2019" the council has considered enlarging the project by an additional 134 hectares, according to Mr Todd.
Narrabri Shire Council has recently purchased options on the extra land, which is on two adjoining properties.
"The combined 374 hectares will make (the inland port), the premier industrial and logistics hub development in North West NSW," he said.
The larger project will mean an extra 500 jobs, bringing total employment at the park to 1500 jobs, he said.
"The (inland port) will be council's industrial engine room looking to advance the economy by attracting businesses to the site to grow and diversify the economy."
The project will be positioned in close proximity to the Inland Rail project and to commercial quantities of gas.
Mayor Cathy Redding said the project would sustain the Narrabri Shire and the greater region well into the future.
"It is a very exciting time for Narrabri Shire with endless possibilities for the various types of industries that (the inland port) can accommodate," she said.
The council also announced a new logo for the project on Wednesday.
"The inland port is progressing rapidly and we need to ensure the corporate image is represented going forward to potential investors," said Cr Redding
Construction of the Narrabri to North Star section of the line is due to start in late 2020. It will mean half-a-billion dollars spent in the shire.
In April, the Narrabri council called on the state and federal governments to fast-track the project, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
