Project proposals
Through the identification of proposals following two expressions of interest rounds, 38 project ideas were assessed as eligible under the Program.
The proponents for each eligible proposal were allocated specialist advisors from an Ernst and Young Australia-led consortium to further develop their ideas into robust feasibility studies and strategic business cases.
The list below is in alphabetical order according to the proponent.
| Proponent | Location | Proposal and potential benefits | Program | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Australian Food and Fibre (Formerly Auscott) |
Narrabri, NSW | Proposal to lengthen two sidings at the Auscott Narrabri Siding and incorporate two additional turnouts to increase the efficiency and rail loading capacity of the yard to handle longer and more frequent bulk and intermodal trains in line with Inland Rail. The proposal identifies the potential to maximise regional economic growth by increasing competitiveness of supply chain, as well as rail competitiveness and capacity thereby reducing trucks on the road subsequently improving road safety. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Strategic business case completed |
| Border Regional Organisation of Councils | NSW/QLD border | A proposal to review options to improve access to Inland Rail in the Goondiwindi Region, including Northern NSW, including a review of Bruxner Way, the Boggabilla siding, the existing narrow-gauge rail west of the proposed alignment and potential choke points on the major roads. The proposal has the potential to improve connectivity to Inland Rail, increase supply chain efficiency and improve road safety. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Pre-feasibility study completed |
| Central NSW Joint Organisation and Regional Development Australia Central West | Central West, NSW | Proposal to investigate options for re-positioning or re-organising local infrastructure and supply chains to deliver access to markets for Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) local producers in Central West NSW as a result of Inland Rail. The proposal indicated it will consider alternative options for consolidation centres and has the potential to support more producers to access Inland Rail as a viable option for distributing their produce and support a mode shift to rail. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Pre-feasibility study completed |
| Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council and Coopers Couriers | Cootamundra, Stockinbingal, NSW | Proposal to explore the development of a rail Interchange and freight handling facility in the South West Slopes Region in NSW. The facility could include storage and supporting infrastructure to move freight from the Stockinbingal - Griffith line onto Inland Rail. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to unlock the region’s capacity to maximise throughput on Inland Rail by moving freight from road to rail. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Strategic business case completed |
| DB & NJ Mattiske Family Trust | Back Creek, near Forbes, NSW | Proposal to extend the existing Back Creek rail siding to significantly increase its grain loading capacity. The proposal also includes an additional storage silo and mobile uploading plant. The proposal indicated it has the potential to allow the facility to be used by other large capacity grain producers in the region and make it more efficient and cost effective to transport grain by rail. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Strategic business case completed |
| Gilgandra Shire Council | Curban, NSW | Proposal will investigate the feasibility of converting one of the anticipated Inland Rail construction compounds in the Gilgandra Shire, to become a multi-user rail access facility post construction. The proposal indicated it would seek to maximise the Inland Rail construction investment by developing a facility that has potential to increase access to rail and throughput on Inland Rail for local producers and businesses. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Feasibility study completed |
| Gilgandra and Coonamble Shire Councils | Gilgandra to Coonamble, NSW | A proposal to investigate an upgrade to the Gilgandra-Coonamble line to allow for heavier, faster trains and develop a connection to the Inland Rail at Curban. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to improve the interoperability and connectivity of the Country Regional Network with Inland Rail, support supply chain efficiencies and support local operators in getting produce to market. | Country Lines Improvement Program | Strategic business case completed |
| Goondiwindi Regional Council | Kurumbul to Thallon, QLD | A proposal to investigate options for the development of a Goondiwindi to Inland Rail corridor connection by upgrading the current narrow gauge South Western rail line and providing a connection to Inland Rail at Kurumbul. The proposal indicated it has the potential to increase supply chain efficiency and allow better connectivity and interoperability between the South Western line and Inland Rail. | Country Lines Improvement Program | Strategic business case completed |
| GrainCorp Ltd | Brookstead, QLD | Proposal to dual gauge the GrainCorp Brookstead rail siding to access the higher Tonne Axle Limits on Inland Rail. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to enable larger train sets to move grain and pulses for export, and offers the potential to unload trains from NSW or Victoria for distribution to Queensland domestic markets. The proposal identifies the potential to increase freight volume to rail and enhance connectivity to Inland Rail. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Feasibility study completed |
| Gunnedah Shire Council | Gunnedah, NSW | A proposal to investigate the development of the Gunnedah Intermodal Freight Terminal, including the construction of a 400m rail siding. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to provide an efficient point of transfer for producers in Northern NSW, position Gunnedah as a key anchor point for Inland Rail and support a more resilient economic base in the region. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Strategic business case completed |
| Interlink SQ and Seaway | Toowoomba, QLD | A proposal to investigate the establishment of the South West Intermodal Project, which includes a primary regional aggregation and distribution hub in Toowoomba and smaller regional feeder hubs. The proposal indicated it has the potential to provide more efficient and lower cost freight movements through a “hub and spoke” logistics network and an efficient interface between the regional rail network and Inland Rail. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Strategic business case completed |
| Lachlan Shire Council | Condobolin, NSW | Proposal to develop the viability of a warehousing and logistics centre near Condobolin. The proposed warehousing will allow freight to be stored and hold goods for collection within the region. The proposal identifies the potential to better service a growing volume of specialty crops being grown in the region and utilise Inland Rail to get products to domestic and export markets. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Strategic business case completed |
| Leeton Shire and Griffith City Councils | Western Riverina, NSW | A proposal to investigate upgrading the WRConnect intermodal facility at Wumbulgal, on the border of Leeton and Griffith Councils, to provide additional/expanded intermodal freight capacity for the Western Riverina region, and remove significant heavy vehicle and train shunting hazards out of the Griffith CBD. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to enhance efficiency of freight movement, improve the supply chain and Inland Rail interface, and generate investor confidence, thereby creating further regional economic growth in a region that produces the largest volume and diversity of agricultural product in NSW. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Strategic business case completed |
| Lockhart Shire Council | Boree Creek, NSW | Proposal to upgrade the country line from The Rock to Boree Creek to meet national heavy rail standards that would enable wagons to be loaded to a higher axle load weight. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to increase rail transport productivity and reduce the amount of grain transported on local roads. | Country Lines Improvement Program | Feasibility study completed |
| Lockyer Valley Council | Lockyer Valley, QLD | A proposal to investigate the viability of a Lockyer Valley Inland Rail connection, which will leverage existing and planned local output and infrastructure. The proposals indicated that a viable connection has the potential to take advantage of increased productivity and connect Lockyer Valley producers and businesses to southern markets. It would also support economic growth for the region. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Strategic Business case completed |
| Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) | Moree, NSW | Proposal to expand and upgrade the existing LDC intermodal facility at Moree, including increasing the area of hardstand, improving access for containerised freight exports as well as 24 hour siding access. The proposal indicated that is has the potential to enable better use of the Inland Rail network by providing more efficient intermodal facilities. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Strategic business case completed |
| Moree Plains Shire Council | Moree, NSW | A proposal to support the development of the Moree Intermodal Park through investigating the construction of road infrastructure to the west and east of the Moree Intermodal Overpass. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to support a direct interface connection to Inland Rail, increase freight efficiency and Inland Rail throughput and improve road user safety. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Pre-feasibility study completed |
| Moree Plains and Gwydir Shire Councils | Croppa Creek, NSW | A proposal to investigate interface improvements, including upgrading the Buckie and County Boundary roads, to improve access to the proposed rail spur in Croppa Creek that will connect with Inland Rail. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to provide safe and efficient road freight access, increase Inland Rail throughput and enhance the region’s connectivity to Inland Rail. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Strategic business case completed |
| Narrabri Shire Council | Narrabri, NSW | A proposal to investigate connections from the Northern NSW Inland Port to Inland Rail, including an upgrade to 6km of the Walgett Branch Line. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to support supply chain efficiencies, increase connectivity with Inland Rail and provide safety and amenity benefits for the Narrabri township. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Strategic Business case completed |
| Narromine Shire Council | Narromine, NSW | Proposal to develop a containerised goods facility and freight exchange at Narromine to service the Inland Rail route and the regional rail network. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to take advantage of the opportunities presented by Inland Rail and cater for the intermodal needs of Narromine and the surrounding area. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Strategic business case completed |
| Pacific National | Junee, NSW | Proposal to construct an additional holding/marshalling road to allow for the attachment and detachment and loading of longer trains at the proposed major regional terminal at Junee, NSW. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to supplement the already planned passing loops and other enabling infrastructure and has the potential to increase the efficiency of rail freight movements and thereby encourage a modal shift to rail. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Pre-feasibility study completed |
| Pacific National | Toowoomba, QLD and Moree, NSW | Proposal to construct an arrival road (supplementary crossing route) and a loading road (rail siding) at Toowoomba and Moree. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to facilitate more efficient loading and unloading of freight trains by allowing through trains to stop and attach or detach sections of the train with either outbound regional freight or inbound empty containers. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to better integrate Inland Rail to the future Moree Special Activation Precinct. | Country Lines Improvement Program | Pre-feasibility study completed |
| Queensland Transport and Logistics Council | Toowoomba region, QLD | The proposal will investigate the opportunities associated with transporting hydrogen by rail and explore potential benefits for Inland Rail. The proposal has the potential to contribute to work being led by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) on emerging technologies related to the production and consumption of hydrogen and completion of the National Hydrogen Infrastructure Assessment in 2022. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Pre-feasibility study completed |
| Scenic Rim Regional Council | Bromelton, QLD | Proposal for a study of the local road connections to the SCT logistics terminal and broader Bromelton State Development Area (SDA) in the Scenic Rim region of South-East Queensland. The proposal indicated it has the potential to provide an assessment of how local regional businesses and allied services can better connect to Inland Rail, and in doing so, improve local community amenity and economy. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Pre-feasibility study completed |
| SCT Logistics | Wodonga, VIC | A proposal to investigate the upgrade and construction of new intermodal capabilities, open access freight infrastructure and a cold storage facility at the Wodonga Intermodal park, within the LOGIC transport site. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to maximise linkages between freight supply chains and Inland Rail, increase Inland Rail throughput and support regional economic growth. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Strategic business case completed |
| SCT Logistics | Parkes, NSW | A proposal to investigate the upgrade and construction of new intermodal capabilities, open access freight infrastructure and a cold storage facility in Parkes. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to improve linkages between freight supply chains and Inland Rail, increase Inland Rail throughput and support industry regional economic growth. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Strategic business case completed |
| Strathbogie Shire Council | Mangalore, VIC | A proposal to investigate the establishment of an intermodal freight terminal adjacent to the Mangalore airport to facilitate the transfer of freight between road, rail and air freight systems. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to enhance connectivity to Inland Rail, improve freight efficiency to and from Victoria and support supply chains in Shepparton and the Goulburn Valley region. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Pre-feasibility study completed |
| Transport for NSW | Stockinbingal to Griffith, NSW | A proposal to investigate an increase in the axle load limit on the existing 185km Stockinbingal-Griffith rail line in the Riverina region. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to contribute to the interoperability of the rail network throughout regional New South Wales by providing improved connectivity between regional hubs such as Griffith and Temora and Inland Rail. | Country Lines Improvement Program | Strategic business case completed |
| Transport for NSW | Narromine to Dubbo, NSW | A proposal to investigate increasing the axle load limit on the existing 38km Narromine-Dubbo rail line in the Orana region. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to contribute to the interoperability of the rail network throughout regional New South Wales by providing improved connectivity between regional hubs, including Dubbo, Narromine, Nyngan and Cobar and Inland Rail. | Country Lines Improvement Program | Strategic business case completed |
| Transport for NSW | Gulgong, NSW | Proposal to complete the construction of a greenfield line between Maryvale to Gulgong at 25 Tonne Axle Load (TAL), including the construction of passing loops at Castlereagh Loop, Goolma Loop and Bodangora Loop. The proposal indicated it has the potential to optimise the route between Dubbo (and Central West) to the Port of Newcastle and maximise freight connectivity and efficiency between Country Regional Network (CRN) branch lines and the ARTC network including Inland Rail. | Country Lines Improvement Program | Feasibility study completed |
| Transport for NSW | Junee, Temora West, Trangie, Griffith, Nevertire NSW | Proposal to investigate upgrading mechanical turnouts with motorised turnouts and associated signalling infrastructure at five key locations adjacent to Inland Rail on the Country Regional Network (CRN). The proposal indicated that it has the potential to enhance the productivity of grain loading sites including improving links from Northern NSW into the Darling Downs, divert traffic to Inland Rail away from other congested networks and optimise train operations from a wider network perspective. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Strategic business case completed |
| Transport for NSW | Dubbo, Narrabri West, Parkes, NSW | Proposal for network interface improvements between Inland Rail and the Country Regional Network (CRN) at three strategic locations including: the development of a siding near the Dubbo Regional Rail maintenance facility; upgrading of the Narrabri West yard including sidings to cater to 25 TAL freight trains; and a Greenfield passing loop to cater for 1.8km long trains east of the Parkes Junction. The proposal indicated it has the potential to improve traffic flow on the Inland Rail mainline and improve access to Inland Rail from adjacent regional and interstate rail lines. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Strategic business case completed |
| Toowoomba Regional Council | Toowoomba, QLD | A proposal to investigate the viability of constructing a track maintenance provisioning centre for Inland Rail operations at a strategic location within the Toowoomba region. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to leverage existing facilities to create supply chain efficiencies and maximise economic benefits for rural townships. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Pre-feasibility study completed |
| Toowoomba Regional Council and Darling Downs & South West Queensland Council of Mayors | Toowoomba, QLD | A proposal to investigate additional rail connections to the existing South Western Rail System at Yelarbon and Southbrook. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to improve rail connections to Inland Rail to accommodate heavy agricultural, mining and bulk commodity loads from the west, and to minimise the need for both road and rail freight through the city of Toowoomba. | Country Lines Improvement Program | Pre-feasibility study completed |
| Toowoomba Regional Council and Darling Downs & South West Queensland Council of Mayors | Toowoomba, QLD | A proposal to investigate an upgrade to the existing West Moreton Rail System and the South Western Rail System to accommodate the same loads and train lengths as Inland Rail. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to reduce freight costs, ensure efficient interoperability with Inland Rail and support an increased mode shift from road to rail. | Country Lines Improvement Program | Pre-feasibility study completed |
| Wagga Wagga City Council and Riverina Oils and Bio Energy (ROBE) | Wagga Wagga, NSW | Proposal to develop a grain terminal and dedicated rail siding at the Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics (RiFL) Hub. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to provide rail connectivity for Riverina Oils and Bio Energy (ROBE) to the Inland Rail network. The proposal has the potential to support more efficient handling of freight and increase Inland Rail throughput. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Strategic business case completed |
| Wagga Wagga City Council | Wagga Wagga, NSW | A proposal to investigate enhancements to the Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics (RiFL) Hub, within the Wagga Wagga Special Activation Precinct (SAP). The proposal indicated that the enhancements, including upgrades and additional infrastructure, have the potential to improve the capability and capacity of the RiFL Hub, facilitate supply chain efficiency and increase Inland Rail throughput. | Productivity Enhancement Program | Strategic business case completed |
| Warrumbungle Shire Council | Baradine, NSW | A proposal to investigate the partial re-instatement of the Gwabegar line to enable a 10km connection between Baradine silos to Inland rail. The proposal indicated that it has the potential to support a more efficient, cost effective distribution network and improve access to new markets. It also proposes increased throughput at the silo and support for costs savings by encouraging modal shift from road to rail. | Country Lines Improvement Program | Strategic business case completed |