TAMWORTH'S Intermodal Hub project is a certainty to get off the ground after a $28 million cash injection from the state government.
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NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro announced the funding windfall along with Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson, which will help reinvigorate a section of unused railway line in West Tamworth.
It will create create the final link between the region and the state's largest shipping port, in Sydney.
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"This funding will restore and raise five kilometres of track on the West Tamworth to Barraba line and install new level crossings to activate rail freight access to Tamworth's new Regional Freight Terminal," Mr Barilaro said.
"When complete, a functioning intermodal rail hub and freight terminal in Tamworth will create a direct rail route to vessels docked at Port Botany, saving businesses significant freight costs."
The project has been plagued by delays and a shortfall in funding for years but now the region's agriculture sector is set to benefit most from the new infrastructure, which will connect producers to export markets.
Once complete, several trains will roll into the site per week, lessening the impact on the region's roads.
Qube Logistics will carry out construction of the project and will be contributing $5 million to the build including development of the terminal at the Global Gateway Park.
"We would like to be running within 12 months, so we are looking at being active in September 2021," Qube Logistics supply chain general manger Sean Hovey said.
"From an agri-perspective, there's going to be a huge grain season this year, circa 9 million tonnes of grain that will come through the market.
"We want to be ready to realise some of the opportunities that come off the back of that next year.
"We also have a good relationship with meat exporters, which will be a key customer in this going forward and there's all sorts of renewable projects that might come through as well."
The project has been a long-held goal of Tamworth Regional Council, which originally garnered more than $7 million of state government funding for the hub in 2017.
However, the project was delayed several times before finally getting back on track late last year.
Tamworth mayor Col Murray said it was exciting to see the project enter its final stages.
"This is what we believe to be a critical, clever investment into our economy that unlocks the opportunity for businesses to become more competitive," Cr Murray said.
"We know agriculture is going to feature in the recovery of the Australian economy and this is a really significant key to unlocking that opportunity.
"It's also great to be able to embark on these projects with different levels of government and while this infrastructure is state owned, it's critical to our economy."